IS83SSS  I**™* 


sa3 

p 

1905 


/ 


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THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  EDITION 

OF  THE  WORKS  OF 

ROBERT  LOUIS  STEVENSON 


PRINCE  OTTO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  EDITION 
OF  STEVENSON’S  WORKS 


NOVELS  AND  ROMANCES 

TREASURE  ISLAND 

PRINCE  OTTO 

KIDNAPPED 

THE  BLACK  ARROW 

THE  MASTER  OF  BALLANTRAE  , 

THE  WRONG  BOX 

THE  WRECKER 

DAVID  BALFOUR 

THE  EBB-TIDE 

WEIR  OF  HERMISTON 

ST.  IVES 

SHORTER  STORIES 

NEW  ARABIAN  NIGHTS 
THE  DYNAMITER 

THE  MERRY  MEN,  containing  DR, 
JEKYLL  AND  MR.  HYDE 
ISLAND  NIGHTS5  ENTERTAINMENTS 

ESSAYS , TRAVELS , AND  SKETCHES 

AN  INLAND  VOYAGE 
TRAVELS  WITH  A DONKEY 
VIRGINIBUS  PUERISQUE 
FAMILIAR  STUDIES 
THE  SILVERADO  SQUATTERS,  contain- 
ing THE  AMATEUR  EMIGRANT 
MEMORIES  AND  PORTRAITS 
IN  THE  SOUTH  SEAS 
ACROSS  THE  PLAINS 

POEMS 

COMPLETE  POEMS 


Sold  singly  or  in  sets 

Per  vol Cloth , $1.00 ; Limp  Leather , $1.2$  net. 

Charles  Scribner’s  Sons,  New  York 


BIOGRAPHICAL  EDITION 


PRINCE  OTTO 

A ROMANCE 


ROBERT  LOUIS  STEVENSON 


WITH  A PREFACE  BT  MRS.  STEVENSON 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER’S  SONS 


Copyright , IQ05 

By  Charles  Scribner’s  Sons 


THE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS,  CAMBRIDGE,  U.  S.  A. 


st V 


PREFACE 

TO 

THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  EDITION 


P 


jRINCE  OTTO,”  as  my  husband  has  said, 
was  projected  in  California,  but  was  not 
taken  up  seriously  until  the  year  1883, 
when  we  were  living  in  the  little  chalet,  La  Solitude, 
in  Hyeres.  The  labour  that  went  into  the  making 
of  the  book  was  greater  than  he  ever  expended  over 
. any  other  novel,  either  before  or  after.  This  story, 
fantastic  and  artificial  to  a degree,  demanded  a 
style  to  correspond.  The  high  key  of  its  beginning 
was  difficult  to  maintain  and  proved  somewhat  of 
^a  strain.  It  was  the  last  effort  of  his  earlier  man- 
;^ner.  My  husband  often  said,  in  later  years,  that 
he  had  outlived  this  style  and  would  be  at  a loss 
ro  regain  it  were  he  to  attempt  another  book  of 
^ the  same  character. 

Prince  Otto  was  originally  modelled  on  the  char- 
^ acter  of  his  cousin,  Robert  Alan  Stevenson,  but 

^ Copyright,  1905,  by  Charles  Scribner’s  Sons 

1 i 83043 


VI 


PREFACE 


fell  insensibly  into  what  my  husband  conceived 
himself.  In  some  respects  his  friends  could  detect 
a superficial  resemblance,  but  the  fundamental 
character  of  the  man  was  not  there.  Otto  shirked 
responsibility  — my  husband  courted  it.  Gondre- 
mark  could  never  have  laid  his  hands  on  the  reins 
of  government  in  Grunewald  had  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson  been  the  reigning  prince.  Otto,  the 
gentle  philosopher,  preferred  a life  of  peace  and 
comfortable  domesticity.  My  husband,  on  the  con- 
trary, was  of  a bolder  spirit,  and  looked  upon 
peace  and  comfort  as  stumbling-blocks  for  the 
soul.  During  one  of  the  many  wars  in  Samoa  a 
tala  (gossiping  tale)  was  circulated  through  the 
country  that  Tusitala  was  acting  as  secret  military 
adviser  to  the  native  army  that  had  just  suffered 
a defeat.  When  this  was  repeated  to  my  husband 
he  threw  up  his  head  and  his  eyes  blazed.  “ What 
sort  of  an  incompetent  do  the  white  men  of  Apia 
take  me  for?”  he  said;  “ I ’m  tempted  to  show 
them  the  kind  of  leader  I ’d  make  — Oh,  if  I 
only  could ! ” and  he  began  drawing  strategic  plans 
on  his  writing-table  to  prove  how  easily  the  A’anas 
might  have  marched  on  to  victory. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  world  of  letters  that  my 
husband  was  a semi-invalid  all  his  life;  when  he 
read  for  his  own  pleasure,  he  preferred  technical 


PREFACE 


Vll 


books  on  military  tactics,  the  margins  of  which 
were  covered  with  his  annotations.  During  Lord 
Wolseley’s  Nile  campaign,  when  he  happened  to  be 
in  tolerable  health,  he  seriously  contemplated  the 
idea  of  going  to  the  front  as  a war  correspondent. 

It  never  seemed  to  me  that  either  my  husband 
or  Robert  Alan  Stevenson  quite  belonged  to  their 
century.  In  some  indefinable  way  they  differed  in 
appearance  from  the  majority  of  mankind  as  much 
as  they  differed  in  character.  This  is  the  only 
explanation  I can  find  for  the  singular  descriptions 
of  my  husband’s  habiliments  that  have  gained  gen- 
eral credence.  He  looked  as  though  he  would 
naturally  be  clad  in  something  picturesque  and  un- 
usual, having  a gallant  bearing  with  an  alert  grace 
of  movement  that  is  seldom  seen  except  in  half- 
civilized  countries.  He  used  many  gestures  in 
speaking,  was  of  a dark,  ruddy  complexion,  and 
quick  and  fiery  of  temper.  “ Something  royal, 
ain't  it  ? was  the  audible  comment  of  a negro 
waiter  on  a Newport  boat  I imagine  even  this 
negro  waiter  had  a picture  in  his  mind  of  sashes 
and  cloaks,  and  jewelled  stilettos;  whereas  the  sup- 
posedly royal  personage  was  clad  in  ordinary  blue 
serge. 

T have  just  read  with  amazement  that  “ Mr. 
Stevenson  wore  skin-tight  nankin  pants,  Welling- 


Vlll 


PREFACE 


ton  boots,  a black  shirt,  a white  sombrero,  and  a 
sealskin  cape  fastened  by  a fancy  brooch  which  held 
a bunch  of  daffodils ! ” I may  have  the  order 
wrong,  but  these  were  the  articles  enumerated,  — a 
costume  that  could  have  been  worn  only  by  a 
maniac,  and  certainly  not  by  my  husband.  It  is 
strange  how  such  tales  take  hold  of  the  imagina- 
tion and  grow  with  the  telling.  Within  the  last 
few  months  a man  said  to  me,  “ I knew  Mr.  Ste- 
venson well  in  Manasquan.  I can  see  him  now,  in 
my  mind’s  eye,  just  as  he  looked  in  his  nankin 
pants  and  red  sash ! ” In  a recent,  otherwise  ex- 
cellent, article  the  author  speaks  of  “ Stevenson’s 
intolerable  affectation  in  dress.”  There  was  more 
excuse  for  the  captain  of  a passenger  ship.  “ Mr. 
Stevenson,”  he  said,  “ came  aboard  my  vessel  in 
his  cow-boy  rig,  with  his  long  boots  on ! ” The 
truth  being  that  my  husband  rode  to  the  wharf  on 
horseback  in  conventional  riding  costume. 

In  my  husband’s  early  years  he  earned  very  little 
money,  although  he  had  a small  allowance  from 
his  father,  — sufficient  for  at  least  a modest  ward- 
robe. It  was  only  by  exercising  the  closest  economy 
that  he  could  save  anything  for  an  invalid  friend 
whose  need  he  considered  greater  than  his  own. 
He  bought  his  clothes  of  the  cheapest  material,  at 
the  cheapest  shops,  and  wore  them  until  they  were 


PREFACE 


IX 


so  shabby  that  his  friends,  not  knowing  the  cir- 
cumstances, remonstrated,  thinking  that  the  son  of 
a comparatively  rich  father  should  make  a better 
appearance.  When  his  funds  were  once  at  the 
lowest  ebb  his  father  presented  him  with  a velvet 
smoking-jacket.  It  lasted  a long  while,  and,  worn 
on  all  occasions,  to  the  scandal  of  the  community,  it 
saved  the  expense  of  other  more  conventional  coats. 

It  was  while  we  were  living*  in  Bournemouth,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  fashion  of  amateur  photog- 
raphy, that  most  of  the  photographs  of  my  husband 
were  taken.  At  that  time  his  health  was  at  the 
worst,  and  his  friends  were  eager  to  get  some  like- 
ness of  him  before,  as  they  feared,  it  would  be  too 
late.  The  hemorrhages  were  almost  incessant,  and 
the  consequent  debility  made  it  very  difficult  for 
him  to  sit  for  a photograph.  The  English  climate 
is  treacherous,  and  even  in  Bournemouth  we  had 
to  exercise  the  utmost  caution  in  guarding  the  in- 
valid from  draughts  and  cold.  The  doctor  would 
not  allow  my  husband  even  to  have  his  hair  cut 
unless  both  the  state  of  his  health  and  the  weather 
were  propitious.  The  photographs  mark  these 
changes  like  a barometer.  A likeness  with  long 
hair  meant  a severe  illness ; all  those  taken  in 
Samoa,  where  he  enjoyed  the  best  health  of  his  life, 
show  him  with  his  hair  cut  short.  While  he  sat  for 


X 


PREFACE 


these  photographs  I stood  near,  guarding  him  from 
fatigue  or  draughts  as  much  as  possible.  Some- 
times the  unexpected  opening  of  a door  would  send 
a chill  into  the  room,  when  I would  snatch  anything 
at  hand  to  throw  about  his  shoulders.  These  de- 
tails may  seem  trivial,  as  indeed  they  are  ; but  my 
husband  has  been  so  persistently  described  as  a 
poseur  in  dress  that  I thought  it  better  to  put  an 
end  to  such  foolish  inventions. 

About  the  time  of  the  completion  of  Prince 
Otto , we  had  several  visitors  in  the  little  chalet. 
First  came  Robert  Alan  Stevenson,  whose  remark- 
able personal  attraction  alone  would  have  made 
every  moment  of  his  stay  a delight  to  us  both ; his 
talk,  of  a rare  intelligence,  witty,  wise,  gay,  full  of 
surprises  and  extravagances,  did  my  husband  more 
good  than  all  the  drugs  in  the  chemist's  shop.  Then 
followed  Mr.  Sidney  Colvin,  the  wise  counsellor 
and  sound  critic.  As  these  appeared  singly,  we 
managed  to  take  them  in  without  bursting  the  walls 
of  La  Solitude ; but  when  Mr.  Charles  Baxter  and 
Mr.  W.  E.  Henley  arrived  together,  we  were  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  engage  sleeping-rooms  for  them 
at  the  hotel. 

These  visits  would  have  been  pleasant  enough 
anywhere,  but  breaking  into  our  secluded  life  as 
they  did,  and  bringing  the  atmosphere  of  the  out- 


PREFACE 


xi 


side  world  into  our  little  hermitage,  they  were  de- 
lightful indeed.  I can  remember  few  things  more 
exciting  than  the  evenings  we  spent  with  Mr. 
Colvin,  inventing  a play  to  be  called  The  Are- 
thusa . The  exhilaration  of  the  society  of  Mr. 
Baxter  and  Mr.  Henley  led  my  husband,  in  an  evil 
moment,  to  propose  an  expedition  to  Nice.  There 
he  took  a cold  which  developed  into  pneumonia. 
He  was  in  imminent  danger  for  many  weeks,  and 
returned  to  Hyeres  desperately  ill. 

Prince  Otto , meanwhile,  had  started  on  his  pil- 
grimage through  the  world  of  letters,  not  without 
some  preliminary  embarrassments.  My  husband 
was  asked  by  Mr.  Longmans  to  put  a price  on  his 
work.  With  much  perturbation  he  answered, 
naming  a sum  absurdly  small.  I insisted  that  this 
should  be  changed  to  a larger  amount;  but  how 
earnestly  I wished  I had  not  interfered  when  days 
passed  without  a word  in  reply.  My  husband’s 
mortification  was  acute.  He  said  he  felt  like  a 
cheat,  and  turned  cold  when  he  remembered  that 
he  had  demanded  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
for  the  serial  rights  of  a tale  the  publishers  appar- 
ently thought  worth  nothing  at  all.  He  actually 
had  the  pen  in  his  hand  to  write  a telegram  re- 
tracting the  terms  in  his  letter  when  a hurried  note 
arrived  from  Messrs.  Longmans,  saying  that  they 


Xll 


PREFACE 


considered  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a very 
moderate  price  for  the  story,  which  should  go  to 
press  immediately. 


F.  V.  de  G.  S. 


TO 


NELLY  VAN  DE  GRIFT 

(Mrs.  Adulfo  Sanchez,  of  Monterey) 

At  last,  after  so  many  years,  I have  the  pleasure  of  re-introducing 
you  to  Prince  Otto , whom  you  will  remember  a very  little  fellow,  no 
bigger  in  fact  than  a few  sheets  of  memoranda  written  for  me  by 
your  kind  hand.  The  sight  of  his  name  will  carry  you  back  to  an 
old  wooden  house  embowered  in  creepers ; a house  that  was  far  gone 
in  the  respectable  stages  of  antiquity  and  seemed  indissoluble  from 
the  green  garden  in  which  it  stood,  and  that  yet  was  a sea-traveller 
in  its  younger  days,  and  had  come  round  the  Horn  piecemeal  in  the 
belly  of  a ship,  and  might  have  heard  the  seamen  stamping  and 
shouting  and  the  note  of  the  boatswain’s  whistle.  It  will  recall  to 
you  the  nondescript  inhabitants  now  so  widely  scattered  : — the  two 
horses,  the  dog,  and  the  four  cats,  some  of  them  still  looking  in  your 
face  as  you  read  these  lines  ; — - the  poor  lady,  so  unfortunately  mar- 
ried to  an  author ; — the  China  boy,  by  this  time,  perhaps,  baiting  his 
line  by  the  banks  of  a river  in  the  Flowery  Land; — and  in  particular 
the  Scot  who  was  then  sick  apparently  unto  death,  and  whom  you 
did  so  much  to  cheer  and  keep  in  good  behaviour. 

You  may  remember  that  he  was  full  of  ambitions  and  designs : so 
soon  as  he  had  his  health  again  completely,  you  may  remember  the 
fortune  he  was  to  earn,  the  journeys  he  was  to  go  upon,  the  de- 
lights he  was  to  enjoy  and  confer,  and  (among  other  matters)  the 
masterpiece  he  was  to  make  of  Prince  Otto  ! 

Well,  we  will  not  give  in  that  we  are  finally  beaten.  We  read  to- 
gether in  those  days  the  story  of  Braddock,  and  how,  as  he  was  car- 
ried dying  from  the  scene  of  his  defeat,  he  promised  himself  to  do 
better  another  time : a story  that  will  always  touch  a brave  heart, 
and  a dying  speech  worthy  of  a more  fortunate  commander.  I try  to 
be  of  Braddock’s  mind.  I still  mean  to  get  my  health  again  ; I still 
purpose,  by  hook  or  crook,  this  book  or  the  next,  to  launch  a mas- 


XIV 


DEDICATION 


terpiece  ; and  I still  intend  — somehow,  some  time  or  other  — to  see 
your  face  and  to  hold  your  hand. 

Meanwhile,  this  little  paper  traveller  goes  forth  instead,  crosses  the 
great  seas  and  the  long  plains  and  the  dark  mountains,  and  comes  at 
last  to  your  door  in  Monterey,  charged  with  tender  greetings.  Pray 
you,  take  him  in.  He  comes  from  a house  where  (even  as  in  your 
own)  there  are  gathered  together  some  of  the  waifs  of  our  company 
of  Oakland;  a house  — for  all  its  outlandish  Gaelic  name  and  dis- 
tant station  — where  you  are  well-beloved. 

R.  L.  S. 


Skerryvore, 

Bournemouth. 


CONTENTS 


Book  I 

PRINCE  ERRANT 

Chapter  Page 

I  In  which  the  Prince  departs  on  an  Adven- 
ture   3 

II  In  which  the  Prince  plays  Haroun-al- 

Raschid 9 

III  In  which  the  Prince  comforts  Age  and 

Beauty  and  delivers  a Lecture  on  Dis- 
cretion in  Love 24 

IV  In  which  the  Prince  collects  Opinions  by 

the  Way 4° 

Book  II 

OF  LOVE  AND  POLITICS 

I  What  happened  in  the  Library 61 

II  “On  the  Court  of  Grunewald,”  being  a 

Portion  of  the  Traveller’s  Manuscript  . 77 

III  The  Prince  and  the  English  Traveller  . . 87 

IV  While  the  Prince  is  in  the  Ante-Room 98 

V  Gondremark  is  in  my  Lady’s  Chamber  . 106 

VI  The  Prince  delivers  a Lecture  on  Marriage, 

with  Practical  Illustrations  of  Divorce  116 
VII  The  Prince  dissolves  the  Council  ....  129 

VI 1 1 The  Party  of  War  takes  Action  ....  143 


XVI 


CONTENTS 


Chapter 

IX  The  Price  of  the  River  Farm;  in  which 

Vainglory  goes  before  a Fall 

X Gotthold’s  Revised  Opinion;  and  the  Fall 

completed  

XI  Providence  Von  Rosen  : Act  the  First  : she 

beguiles  the  Baron 

XII  Providence  Von  Rosen:  Act  the  Second: 
she  informs  the  Prince 

XIII  Providence  Von  Rosen:  Act  the  Third: 

SHE  ENLIGHTENS  SERAPHINA 

XIV  Relates  the  Cause  and  Outbreak  of  the 

Revolution  .... 


Book  III 

FORTUNATE  MISFORTUNE 

I  Princess  Cinderella 

II  Treats  of  a Christian  Virtue 

III  Providence  Von  Rosen  : Act  the  Last:  in 

WHICH  SHE  GALLOPS  OFF  . 

IV  Babes  in  the  Wood 

Bibliographical  Postscript  to  complete  the 

Story 


Pagi 
1 54 
171 
184 
194 
209, 
219, 

237 

262 

271  ] 
284  j 

l 

295  j 


BOOK  I 


PRINCE  ERRANT 


CHAPTER  I 


IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCE  DEPARTS  ON  AN 
ADVENTURE 

YOU  shall  seek  in  vain  upon  the  map  of 
Europe  for  the  bygone  state  of  Griine- 
wald.  An  independent  principality,  an 
infinitesimal  member  of  the  German  Empire,  she 
played,  for  several  centuries,  her  part  in  the  dis- 
cord of  Europe;  and,  at  last,  in  the  ripeness  of 
time  and  at  the  spiriting  of  several  bald  diplo- 
matists, vanished  like  a morning  ghost.  Less  for- 
tunate than  Poland,  she  left  not  a regret  behind 
her;  and  the  very  memory  of  her  boundaries  has 
faded. 

It  was  a patch  of  hilly  country  covered  with 
thick  wood.  Many  streams  took  their  beginning 
in  the  glens  of  Griinewald,  turning  mills  for  the 
inhabitants.  There  was  one  town,  Mittwalden, 
and  many  brown,  wooden  hamlets,  climbing  roof 
above  roof,  along  the  steep  bottom  of  dells,  and 
communicating  by  covered  bridges  over  the  larger 
of  the  torrents.  The  hum  of  watermills,  the  splash 
of  running  water,  the  clean  odour  of  pine  saw- 


4 


PRINCE  OTTO 


dust,  the  sound  and  the  smell  of  the  pleasant  wind 
among  the  innumerable  army  of  the  mountain 
pines,  the  dropping  fire  of  huntsmen,  the  dull  stroke 
of  the  wood-axe,  intolerable  roads,  fresh  trout  for 
supper  in  the  clean  bare  chamber  of  an  inn,  and 
the  song  of  birds  and  the  music  of  the  village- 
bells  — these  were  the  recollections  of  the  Griine- 
wald  tourist. 

North  and  east  the  foothills  of  Griinewald  sank 
with  varying  profile  into  a vast  plain.  On  these 
sides  many  small  states  bordered  with  the  princi- 
pality, Gerolstein,  an  extinct  grand  duchy,  among 
the  number.  On  the  south  it  marched  with  the 
comparatively  powerful  kingdom  of  Seaboard 
Bohemia,  celebrated  for  its  flowers  and  mountain 
bears,  and  inhabited  by  a people  of  singular  sim- 
plicity and  tenderness  of  heart.  Several  intermar- 
riages had,  in  the  course  of  centuries,  united  the 
crowned  families  of  Griinewald  and  maritime  Bo- 
hemia; and  the  last  Prince  of  Griinewald,  whose 
history  I' purpose  to  relate,  drew  his  descent  through 
Perdita,  the  only  daughter  of  King  Florizel  the 
First  of  Bohemia.  That  these  intermarriages  had 
in  some  degree  mitigated  the  rough,  manly  stock 
of  the  first  Griinewalds,  was  an  opinion  widely 
held  within  the  borders  of  the  principality.  The 
charcoal  burner,  the  mountain  sawyer,  the  wielder 
of  the  broad  axe  among  the  congregated  pines  of 


PRINCE  OTTO 


5 


Griinewald,  proud  of  their  hard  hands,  proud  of 
their  shrewd  ignorance  and  almost  savage  lore, 
looked  with  an  unfeigned  contempt  on  the  soft 
character  and  manners  of  the  sovereign  race. 

The  precise  year  of  grace  in  which  this  tale 
begins  shall  be  left  to  the  conjecture  of  the  reader. 
But  for  the  season  of  the  year  (which,  in  such  a 
story,  is  the  more  important  of  the  two)  it  was 
already  so  far  forward  in  the  spring,  that  when 
mountain  people  heard  horns  echoing  all  day  about 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  principality,  they  told 
themselves  that  Prince  Otto  and  his  hunt  were  up 
and  out  for  the  last  time  till  the  return  of  autumn. 

At  this  point  the  borders  of  Griinewald  descend 
somewhat  steeply,  here  and  there  breaking  into 
crags ; and  this  shaggy  and  trackless  country 
stands  in  a bold  contrast  to  the  cultivated  plain 
below.  It  was  traversed  at  that  period  by  two 
roads  alone.  One,  the  imperial  highway,  bound 
to  Brandenau  in  Gerolstein,  descended  the  slope 
obliquely  and  by  the  easiest  gradients.  The  other 
ran  like  a fillet  across  the  very  forehead  of  the 
hills,  dipping  into  savage  gorges,  and  wetted  by 
the  spray  of  tiny  waterfalls.  Once  it  passed  beside 
a certain  tower  or  castle,  built  sheer  upon  the  mar- 
gin of  a formidable  cliff,  and  commanding  a vast 
prospect  of  the  skirts  of  Griinewald  and  the  busy 
plains  of  Gerolstein.  The  Felsenburg  (so  this 


6 


PRINCE  OTTO 


tower  was  called)  served  now  as  a prison,  now  as 
a hunting-seat;  and  for  all  it  stood  so  lonesome 
to  the  naked  eye,  with  the  aid  of  a good  glass  the 
burghers  of  Brandenau  could  count  its  windows 
from  the  lime-tree  terrace  where  they  walked  at 
night. 

In  the  wedge  of  forest  hillside  enclosed  between 
the  roads,  the  horns  continued  all  day  long  to 
scatter  tumult;  and  at  length,  as  the  sun  began 
to  draw  near  to  the  horizon  of  the  plain,  a rousing 
triumph  announced  the  slaughter  of  the  quarry. 
The  first  and  second  huntsman  had  drawn  some- 
what aside,  and  from  the  summit  of  a knoll  gazed 
down  before  them  on  the  drooping  shoulders  of 
the  hill  and  across  the  expanse  of  plain.  They  cov- 
ered their  eyes,  for  the  sun  was  in  their  faces.  The 
glory  of  its  going  down  was  somewhat  pale. 
Through  the  confused  tracery  of  many  thousands 
of  naked  poplars,  the  smoke  of  so  many  houses, 
and  the  evening  steam  ascending  from  the  fields, 
the  sails  of  a windmill  on  a gentle  eminence  moved 
very  conspicuously,  like  a donkey's  ears.  And  hard 
by,  like  an  open  gash,  the  imperial  highroad  ran 
straight  sunward,  an  artery  of  travel. 

There  is  one  of  nature's  spiritual  ditties,  that 
has  not  yet  been  set  to  words  or  human  music: 
“ The  Invitation  to  the  Road ; " an  air  continually 
sounding  in  the  ears  of  gipsies,  and  to  whose  in- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


7 


spiration  our  nomadic  fathers  journeyed  all  their 
days.  The  hour,  the  season,  and  the  scene,  all 
were  in  delicate  accordance.  The  air  was  full  of 
birds  of  passage,  steering  westward  and  northward 
over  Griinewald,  an  army  of  specks  to  the  uplook- 
ing  eye.  And  below,  the  great  practicable  road 
was  bound  for  the  same  quarter. 

But  to  the  two  horsemen  on  the  knoll  this  spir- 
itual ditty  was  unheard.  They  were,  indeed,  in 
some  concern  of  mind,  scanning  every  fold  of  the 
subjacent  forest,  and  betraying  both  anger  and 
dismay  in  their  impatient  gestures. 

“ I do  not  see  him,  Kuno,”  said  the  first  hunts- 
man, “ nowhere  — not  a trace,  not  a hair  of  the 
mare's  tail ! No,  sir,  he  's  off ; broke  cover  and  got 
away.  Why,  for  twopence  I would  hunt  him  with 
the  dogs ! ” 

“ Mayhap,  he ’s  gone  home,”  said  Kuno,  but 
without  conviction. 

“ Home ! ” sneered  the  other.  “ I give  him  twelve 
days  to  get  home.  No,  it's  begun  again;  it's  as 
it  was  three  years  ago,  before  he  married ; a dis- 
grace ! Hereditary  prince,  hereditary  fool ! There 
goes  the  government  over  the  borders  on  a grey 
mare.  What's  that?  No,  nothing  — no,  I tell 
you,  on  my  word,  I set  more  store  by  a good  geld- 
ing or  an  English  dog.  That  for  your  Otto ! ” 

“ He  's  not  my  Otto,”  growled  Kuno. 


8 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Then  I don’t  know  whose  he  is,”  was  the  retort. 

“ You  would  put  your  hand  in  the  fire  for  him 
to-morrow,”  said  Kuno,  facing  round. 

“ Me ! ” cried  the  huntsman.  “ I would  see  him 
hanged ! I ’m  a Griinewald  patriot  — enrolled,  and 
have  my  medal,  too;  and  I would  help  a prince! 
I ’m  for  liberty  and  Gondremark.” 

“ Well,  it ’s  all  one,”  said  Kuno.  “ If  anybody 
said  what  you  said,  you  would  have  his  blood,  and 
you  know  it.” 

“ You  have  him  on  the  brain,”  retorted  his  com- 
panion. “ There  he  goes ! ” he  cried,  the  next 
moment. 

And  sure  enough,  about  a mile  down  the  moun- 
tain, a rider  on  a white  horse  was  seen  to  flit 
rapidly  across  a heathy  open  and  vanish  among 
the  trees  on  the  farther  side. 

“ In  ten  minutes  he  ’ll  be  over  the  border  into 
Gerolstein,”  said  Kuno.  “ It ’s  past  cure.” 

“ Well,  if  he  founders  that  mare,  I ’ll  never  for- 
give him,”  added  the  other,  gathering  his  reins. 

And  as  they  turned  down  from  the  knoll  to  rejoin 
their  comrades,  the  sun  dipped  and  disappeared, 
and  the  woods  fell  instantly  into  the  gravity  and 
greyness  of  the  early  night. 


CHAPTER  II 


IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCE  PLAYS  HAROUN-AL- 
RASCHID 

THE  night  fell  upon  the  Prince  while  he 
was  threading  green  tracks  in  the  lower 
valleys  of  the  wood ; and  though  the 
stars  came  out  overhead  and  displayed  the  inter- 
minable order  of  the  pine-tree  pyramids,  regular 
and  dark  like  cypresses,  their  light  was  of  small 
service  to  a traveller  in  such  lonely  paths,  and 
from  thenceforth  he  rode  at  random.  The  austere 
face  of  nature,  the  uncertain  issue  of  his  course, 
the  open  sky  and  the  free  air,  delighted  him  like 
wine ; and  the  hoarse  chafing  of  a river  on  his  left 
sounded  in  his  ears  agreeably. 

It  was  past  eight  at  night  before  his  toil  was 
rewarded  and  he  issued  at  last  out  of  the  forest  on 
the  firm  white  highroad.  It  lay  down-hill  before 
him,  with  a sweeping  eastward  trend,  faintly  bright 
between  the  thickets  ; and  Otto  paused  and  gazed 
upon  it.  So  it  ran,  league  after  league,  still  join- 
ing others,  to  the  farthest  ends  of  Europe,  there 
skirting  the  sea-surge,  here  gleaming  in  the  lights 


IO 


PRINCE  OTTO 


of  cities ; and  the  innumerable  army  of  tramps  and 
travellers  moved  upon  it  in  all  lands  as  by  a com- 
mon impulse,  and  were  now  in  all  places  drawing 
near  to  the  inn  door  and  the  night’s  rest.  The 
pictures  swarmed  and  vanished  in  his  brain ; a surge 
of  temptation,  a beat  of  all  his  blood,  went  over 
him,  to  set  spur  to  the  mare  and  to  go  on  into 
the  unknown  for  ever.  And  then  it  passed  away; 
hunger  and  fatigue,  and  that  habit  of  middling 
actions  which  we  call  common-sense,  resumed  their 
empire;  and  in  that  changed  mood,  his  eye  lighted 
upon  two  bright  windows  on  his  left  hand,  between 
the  road  and  river. 

He  turned  off  by  a by-road,  and  in  a few  minutes 
he  was  knocking  with  his  whip  on  the  door  of 
a large  farmhouse,  and  a chorus  of  dogs  from  the 
farmyard  were  making  angry  answer.  A very  tall, 
old,  white-headed  man  came,  shading  a candle,  at 
the  summons.  He  had  been  of  great  strength  in 
his  time,  and  of  a handsome  countenance ; but  now 
he  was  fallen  away,  his  teeth  were  quite  gone, 
and  his  voice  when  he  spoke  was  broken  and 
falsetto. 

“ You  will  pardon  me,”  said  Otto.  “ I am  a 
traveller  and  have  entirely  lost  my  way.” 

“ Sir,”  said  the  old  man,  in  a very  stately,  shaky 
manner,  “ you  are  at  the  River  Farm,  and  I am 
Killian  Gottesheim,  at  your  disposal.  We  are  here, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 1 

sir,  at  about  an  equal  distance  from  Mittwalden 
in  Griinewald  and  Brandenau  in  Gerolstein:  six 
leagues  to  either,  and  the  road  excellent ; but  there 
is  not  a wine  bush,  not  a carter's  alehouse,  anywhere 
between.  You  will  have  to  accept  my  hospitality 
for  the  night;  rough  hospitality,  to  which  I make 
you  freely  welcome;  for,  sir,"  he  added  with  a 
bow,  “ it  is  God  who  sends  the  guest." 

“ Amen.  And  I most  heartily  thank  you," 
replied  Otto,  bowing  in  his  turn. 

“ Fritz,"  said  the  old  man,  turning  towards  the 
interior,  “ lead  round  this  gentleman’s  horse;  and 
you,  sir,  condescend  to  enter." 

Otto  entered  a chamber  occupying  the  greater 
part  of  the  ground-floor  of  the  building.  It  had 
probably  once  been  divided;  for  the  farther  end 
was  raised  by  a long  step  above  the  nearer,  and 
the  blazing  fire  and  the  white  supper-table  seemed 
to  stand  upon  a dais.  All  around  were  dark,  brass- 
mounted  cabinets  and  cupboards ; dark  shelves  car- 
rying ancient  country  crockery;  guns  and  antlers 
and  broadside  ballads  on  the  wall ; a tall  old  clock 
with  roses  on  the  dial ; and  down  in  one  corner 
the  comfortable  promise  of  a wine  barrel.  It  was 
homely,  elegant,  and  quaint. 

A powerful  youth  hurried  out  to  attend  on  the 
grey  mare;  and  when  Mr.  Killian  Gottesheim  had 
presented  him  to  his  daughter  Ottilia,  Otto  followed 


12 


PRINCE  OTTO 


to  the  stable  as  became,  not  perhaps  the  Prince, 
but  the  good  horseman.  When  he  returned,  a 
smoking  omelette  and  some  slices  of  home-cured 
ham  were  waiting  him ; these  were  followed  by  a 
ragout  and  a cheese;  and  it  was  not  until  his  guest 
had  entirely  satisfied  his  hunger,  and  the  whole 
party  drew  about  the  fire  over  the  wine  jug,  that 
Killian  Gottesheim’s  elaborate  courtesy  permitted 
him  to  address  a question  to  the  Prince. 

“You  have  perhaps  ridden  far,  sir?”  he  in- 
quired. 

“ I have,  as  you  say,  ridden  far,”  replied  Otto ; 
“ and,  as  you  have  seen,  I was  prepared  to  do 
justice  to  your  daughter’s  cookery.” 

“ Possibly,  sir,  from  ' the  direction  of  Bran- 
denau  ? ” continued  Killian. 

“ Precisely ; and  I should  have  slept  to-night, 
had  I not  wandered,  in  Mittwalden,”  answered  the 
Prince,  weaving  in  a patch  of  truth,  according  to 
the  habit  of  all  liars. 

“ Business  leads  you  to  Mittwalden  ? ” was  the 
next  question. 

“ Mere  curiosity,”  said  Otto.  “ I have  never 
yet  visited  the  principality  of  Griinewald.” 

“ A pleasant  state,  sir,”  piped  the  old  man,  nod- 
ding, “ a very  pleasant  state,  and  a fine  race,  both 
pines  and  people.  We  reckon  ourselves  part  Griine- 
walders  here,  lying  so  near  the  borders;  and  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


i3 


river  there  is  all  good  Griinewald  water,  every  drop 
of  it.  Yes,  sir,  a fine  state.  A man  of  Griinewald 
now  will  swing  me  an  axe  over  his  head  that  many 
a man  of  Gerolstein  could  hardly  lift;  and  the 
pines,  why,  deary  me,  there  must  be  more  pines 
in  that  little  state,  sir,  than  people  in  this  whole 
big  world.  ’T  is  twenty  years  now  since  I crossed 
the  marshes,  for  we  grow  home-keepers  in  old 
age;  but  I mind  it  as  if  it  was  yesterday.  Up  and 
down,  the  road  keeps  right  on  from  here  to  Mitt- 
walden;  and  nothing  all  the  way  but  the  good 
green  pine-trees,  big  and  little,  and  water  power! 
water  power  at  every  step,  sir.  We  once  sold  a bit 
of  forest,  up  there  beside  the  highroad;  and  the 
sight  of  minted  money  that  we  got  for  it,  has  set 
me  ciphering  ever  since  what  all  the  pines  in  Griine- 
wald  would  amount  to.” 

“I  suppose  you  see  nothing  of  the  Prince?” 
inquired  Otto. 

“ No,”  said  the  young  man,  speaking  for  the 
first  time,  “ nor  want  to.” 

“ Why  so?  is  he  so  much  disliked?  ” asked  Otto. 
“ Not  what  you  might  call  disliked,”  replied  the 
old  gentleman,  “ but  despised,  sir.” 

“ Indeed,”  said  the  Prince,  somewhat  faintly. 

“ Yes,  sir,  despised,”  nodded  Killian,  filling  a 
long  pipe,  “ and,  to  my  way  of  thinking,  justly 
despised.  Here  is  a man  with  great  opportunities, 


14 


PRINCE  OTTO 


and  what  does  he  do  with  them  ? He  hunts,  and  he 
dresses  very  prettily  — which  is  a thing  to  be 
ashamed  of  in  a man  — and  he  acts  plays ; and  if 
he  does  aught  else,  the  news  of  it  has  not  come 
here.” 

“ Yet  these  are  all  innocent,”  said  Otto.  “ What 
would  you  have  him  do  — make  war?” 

“ No,  sir,”  replied  the  old  man.  “ But  here  it 
is;  I have  been  fifty  years  upon  this  River  Farm, 
and  wrought  in  it,  day  in,  day  out ; I have  ploughed 
and  sowed  and  reaped,  and  risen  early,  and  waked 
late;  and  this  is  the  upshot:  that  all  these  years 
it  has  supported  me  and  my  family;  and  been  the 
best  friend  that  ever  I had,  set  aside  my  wife; 
and  now,  when  my  time  comes,  I leave  it  a 
better  farm  than  when  I found  it.  So  it  is,  if 
a man  works  hearty  in  the  order  of  nature,  he 
gets  bread  and  he  receives  comfort,  and  what- 
ever he  touches  breeds.  And  it  humbly  appears 
to  me,  if  that  Prince  was  to  labour  on  his 
throne,  as  I have  laboured  and  wrought  in 
my  farm,  he  would  find  both  an  increase  and  a 
blessing.” 

“ I believe  with  you,  sir,”  Otto  said ; “ and  yet 
the  parallel  is  inexact.  For  the  farmer’s  life  is 
natural  and  simple  ; but  the  prince’s  is  both  arti- 
ficial and  complicated.  It  is  easy  to  do  right  in  the 
one,  and  exceedingly  difficult  not  to  do  wrong  in 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*5 


the  other.  If  your  crop  is  blighted,  you  can  take 
off  your  bonnet  and  say,  ‘ God's  will  be  done  ’ ; 
but  if  the  prince  meets  with  a reverse,  he  may  have 
to  blame  himself  for  the  attempt.  And  perhaps, 
if  all  the  kings  in  Europe  were  to  confine  them- 
selves to  innocent  amusement,  the  subjects  would 
be  the  better  off.” 

“ Ay,”  said  the  young  man  Fritz,  “ you  are  in 
the  right  of  it  there.  That  was  a true  word  spoken. 
And  I see  you  are  like  me,  a good  patriot  and  an 
enemy  to  princes.” 

Otto  was  somewhat  abashed  at  this  deduction, 
and  he  made  haste  to  change  his  ground.  “ But,” 
said  he,  “ you  surprise  me  by  what  you  say  of  this 
Prince  Otto.  I have  heard  him,  I must  own,  more 
favourably  painted.  I was  told  he  was,  in  his 
heart,  a good  fellow,  and  the  enemy  of  no  one  but 
himself.” 

“ And  so  he  is,  sir,”  said  the  girl,  “ a very 
handsome,  pleasant  prince;  and  we  know  some 
who  would  shed  their  blood  for  him.” 

“ O ! Kuno!”  said  Fritz.  “ An  ignoramus!” 

“ Ay,  Kuno,  to  be  sure,”  quavered  the  old  farmer. 
“Well,  since  this  gentleman  is  a stranger  to  these 
parts,  and  curious  about  the  Prince,  I do  believe 
that  story  might  divert  him.  This  Kuno,  you  must 
know,  sir,  is  one  of  the  hunt  servants,  and  a most 
ignorant,  intemperate  man : a right  Griinewalder, 


1 6 


PRINCE  OTTO 


as  we  say  in  Gerolstein.  We  know  him  well,  in 
this  house;  for  he  has  come  as  far  as  here  after 
his  stray  dogs ; and  I make  all  welcome,  sir,  without 
account  of  state  or  nation.  And,  indeed,  between 
Gerolstein  and  Griinewald  the  peace  has  held  so 
long  that  the  roads  stand  open  like  my  door;  and 
a man  will  make  no  more  of  the  frontier  than  the 
very  birds  themselves.” 

“ Ay,”  said  Otto,  “ it  has  been  a long  peace  — 
a peace  of  centuries.” 

“ Centuries,  as  you  say,”  returned  Killian : “ the 
more  the  pity  that  it  should  not  be  for  ever.  Well, 
sir,  this  Kuno  was  one  day  in  fault,  and  Otto, 
who  has  a quick  temper,  up  with  his  whip  and 
thrashed  him,  they  do  say,  soundly.  Kuno  took  it 
as  best  he  could,  but  at  last  he  broke  out,  and 
dared  the  Prince  to  throw  his  whip  away  and 
wrestle  like  a man ; for  we  are  all  great  at  wrestling 
in  these  parts,  and  it ’s  so  that  we  generally  settle 
our  disputes.  Well,  sir,  the  Prince  did  so;  and 
being  a weakly  creature,  found  the  tables  turned; 
for  the  man  whom  he  had  just  been  thrashing  like 
a negro  slave,  lifted  him  with  a back  grip  and  threw 
him  heels  over  head.” 

“ He  broke  his  bridle-arm,”  cried  Fritz  — “ and 
some  say  his  nose.  Serve  him  right,  say  I ! Man 
to  man,  which  is  the  better  at  that  ? ” 

“ And  then  ? ” asked  Otto. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


l7 


“ O,  then,  Kuno  carried  him  home ; and  they 
were  the  best  of  friends  from  that  day  forth.  I 
don’t  say  it ’s  a discreditable  story,  you  observe,” 
continued  Mr.  Gottesheim;  “ but  it’s  droll,  and 
that ’s  the  fact.  A man  should  think  before  he 
strikes;  for,  as  my  nephew  says,  man  to  man  was 
the  old  valuation.” 

“ Now,  if  you  were  to  ask  me,”  said  Otto,  “ I 
should  perhaps  surprise  you.  I think  it  was  the 
Prince  that  conquered.” 

“ And,  sir,  you  would  be  right,”  replied  Killian, 
seriously.  “ In  the  eyes  of  God,  I do  not  question 
but  you  would  be  right ; but  men,  sir,  look  at  these 
things  differently,  and  they  laugh.” 

“ They  made  a song  of  it,”  observed  Fritz. 
“ How  does  it  go?  Ta-tum-ta-ra  . . .” 

“ Well,”  interrupted  Otto,  who  had  no  great 
anxiety  to  hear  the  song,  “ the  Prince  is  young ; 
he  may  yet  mend.” 

“ Not  so  young,  by  your  leave,”  cried  Fritz. 
“ A man  of  forty.” 

“ Thirty-six,”  corrected  Mr.  Gottesheim. 

“ O,”  cried  Ottilia,  in  obvious  disillusion,  “ a 
man  of  middle  age ! And  they  said  he  was  so  hand- 
some when  he  was  young ! ” 

“ And  bald,  too,”  added  Fritz. 

Otto  passed  his  hand  among  his  locks.  At  that 
moment  he  was  far  from  happy,  and  even  the 


VOL.  V.  — 2 


PRINCE  OTTO 


18 

tedious  evenings  at  Mittwalden  Palace  began  to 
smile  upon  him  by  comparison. 

“ O,  six-and-thirty ! ” he  protested.  “ A man 
is  not  yet  old  at  six-and-thirty.  I am  that  age 
myself.” 

“ I should  have  taken  you  for  more,  sir,”  piped 
the  old  farmer.  “ But  if  that  be  so,  you  are  of  an 
age  with  Master  Ottekin,  as  people  call  him;  and, 
I would  wager  a crown,  have  done  more  service 
in  your  time.  Though  it  seems  young  by  compari- 
son with  men  of  a great  age  like  me,  yet  it ’s  some 
way  through  life  for  all  that;  and  the  mere  fools 
and  fiddlers  are  beginning  to  grow  weary  and  to 
look  old.  Yes,  sir,  by  six-and-thirty,  if  a man 
be  a follower  of  God’s  laws,  he  should  have  made 
himself  a home  and  a good  name  to  live  by;  he 
should  have  got  a wife  and  a blessing  on  his  mar- 
riage; and  his  works,  as  the  Word  says,  should 
begin  to  follow  him.” 

“ Ah,  well,  the  Prince  is  married,”  cried  Fritz, 
with  a coarse  burst  of  laughter. 

“ That  seems  to  entertain  you,  sir,”  said  Otto. 

“ Ay,”  said  the  young  boor.  “ Did  you  not 
know  that  ? I thought  all  Europe  knew  it ! ” And 
he  added  a pantomime  of  a nature  to  explain  his 
accusation  to  the  dullest. 

“ Ah,  sir,”  said  Mr.  Gottesheim,  “ it  is  very 
plain  that  you  are  not  from  hereabouts!  But  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


J9 


truth  is,  that  the  whole  princely  family  and  Court 
are  rips  and  rascals,  not  one  to  mend  another. 
They  live,  sir,  in  idleness  and  — what  most  com- 
monly follows  it  — corruption.  The  Princess  has 
a lover;  a Baron,  as  he  calls  himself,  from  East 
Prussia;  and  the  Prince  is  so  little  of  a man,  sir, 
that  he  holds  the  candle.  Nor  is  that  the  worst  of 
it,  for  this  foreigner  and  his  paramour  are  suffered 
to  transact  the  State  affairs,  while  the  Prince  takes 
the  salary  and  leaves  all  things  to  go  to  wrack. 
There  will  follow  upon  this  some  manifest  judg- 
ment which,  though  I am  old,  I may  survive  to 
see.” 

“ Good  man,  you  are  in  the  wrong  about  Gondre- 
mark,”  said  Fritz,  showing  a greatly  increased 
animation ; “ but  for  all  the  rest,  you  speak  the 
God’s  truth  like  a good  patriot.  As  for  the  Prince, 
if  he  would  take  and  strangle  his  wife,  I would 
forgive  him  yet.” 

“ Nay,  Fritz,”  said  the  old  man,  “ that  would 
be  to  add  iniquity  to  evil.  For  you  perceive,  sir,” 
he  continued,  once  more  addressing  himself  to  the 
unfortunate  Prince,  “ this  Otto  has  himself  to 
thank  for  these  disorders.  He  has  his  young  wife 
and  his  principality,  and  he  has  sworn  to  cherish 
both.” 

“ Sworn  at  the  altar!  ” echoed  Fritz.  “ But  put 
your  faith  in  princes ! ” 


20 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Well,  sir,  he  leaves  them  both  to  an  adventurer 
from  East  Prussia,”  pursued  the  farmer;  “leaves 
the  girl  to  be  seduced  and  to  go  on  from  bad  to 
worse,  till  her  name  ’s  become  a taproom  by-word, 
and  she  not  yet  twenty;  leaves  the  country  to  be 
overtaxed,  and  bullied  with  armaments,  and  jockied 
into  war ” 

“ War ! ” cried  Otto. 

“ So  they  say,  sir ; those  that  watch  their  on- 
goings, say  to  war,”  asseverated  Killian.  “ Well, 
sir,  that  is  very  sad ; it  is  a sad  thing  for  this  poor, 
wicked  girl  to  go  down  to  hell  with  people’s  curses; 
it ’s  a sad  thing  for  a tight  little  happy  country 
to  be  misconducted ; but  whoever  may  complain, 
I humbly  conceive,  sir,  that  this  Otto  cannot. 
What  he  has  worked  for,  that  he  has  got;  and 
may  God  have  pity  on  his  soul,  for  a great  and 
a silly  sinner’s ! ” 

“ He  has  broke  his  oath ; then  he  is  a perjurer. 
He  takes  the  money  and  leaves  the  work;  why, 
then  plainly  he ’s  a thief.  A cuckold  he  was  before, 
and  a fool  by  birth.  Better  me  that!  ” cried  Fritz, 
and  snapped  his  fingers. 

“ And  now,  sir,  you  will  see  a little,”  continued 
the  farmer,  “ why  we  think  so  poorly  of  this  Prince 
Otto.  There ’s  such  a thing  as  a man  being  pious 
and  honest  in  the  private  way;  and  there  is  such  a 
thing,  sir,  as  a public  virtue ; but  when  a man  has 


PRINCE  OTTO 


21 


neither,  the  Lord  lighten  him ! Even  this  Gondre- 
mark,  that  Fritz  here  thinks  so  much  of ” 

“ Ay,”  interrupted  Fritz,  “ Gondremark ’s  the 
man  for  me.  I would  we  had  his  like  in  Gerolstein.” 

“ He  is  a bad  man,”  said  the  old  farmer,  shaking 
his  head ; “ and  there  was  never  good  begun  by 
the  breach  of  God’s  commandments.  But  so  far  I 
will  go  with  you : he  is  a man  that  works  for  what 
he  has.” 

“ I tell  you  he ’s  the  hope  of  Griinewald,”  cried 
Fritz.  “ He  does  n’t  suit  some  of  your  high-and- 
dry,  old,  ancient  ideas;  but  he’s  a downright 
modern  man  — a man  of  the  new  lights  and  the 
progress  of  the  age.  He  does  some  things  wrong ; 
so  they  all  do ; but  he  has  the  people’s  interests  next 
his  heart ; and  you  mark  me  — you,  sir,  who  are 
a Liberal,  and  the  enemy  of  all  their  governments, 
you  please  to  mark  my  words  — the  day  will  come 
in  Griinewald,  when  they  take  out  that  yellow- 
headed skulk  of  a Prince  and  that  dough-faced 
Messalina  of  a Princess,  march  ’em  back  foremost 
over  the  borders,  and  proclaim  the  Baron  Gondre- 
mark first  President.  I Ve  heard  them  say  it  in 
a speech.  I was  at  a meeting  once  at  Brandenau, 
and  the  Mittwalden  delegates  spoke  up  for  fifteen 
thousand.  Fifteen  thousand,  all  brigaded,  and  each 
man  with  a medal  round  his  neck  to  rally  by. 
That ’s  all  Gondremark.” 


22 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Ay,  sir,  you  see  what  it  leads  to : wild  talk 
to-day,  and  wilder  doings  to-morrow,”  said  the  old 
man.  “ For  there  is  one  thing  certain : that  this 
Gondremark  has  one  foot  in  the  Court  backstairs, 
and  the  other  in  the  Masons’  lodges.  He  gives 
himself  out,  sir,  for  what  nowadays  they  call  a 
patriot:  a man  from  East  Prussia!” 

“ Give  himself  out!  ” cried  Fritz.  “ He  is!  He 
is  to  lay  by  his  title  as  soon  as  the  Republic  is 
declared ; I heard  it  in  a speech.” 

“ Lay  by  Baron  to  take  up  President  ? ” returned 
Killian.  “ King  Log,  King  Stork.  But  you  ’ll 
live  longer  than  I,  and  you  will  see  the  fruits  of  it.” 
“ Father,”  whispered  Ottilia,  pulling  at  the 
speaker’s  coat,  “ surely  the  gentleman  is  ill.” 

“ I beg  your  pardon,”  cried  the  farmer,  rewaking 
to  hospitable  thoughts ; “ can  I offer  you  any- 
thing? ” 

“ I thank  you.  I am  very  weary,”  answered 
Otto.  “ I have  presumed  upon  my  strength.  If 
you  would  show  me  to  a bed,  I should  be  grateful.” 
“ Ottilia,  a candle ! ” said  the  old  man.  “ Indeed, 
sir,  you  look  paley.  A little  cordial  water?  No? 
Then  follow  me,  I beseech  you,  and  I will  bring 
you  to  the  stranger’s  bed.  You  are  not  the  first 
by  many  who  has  slept  well  below  my  roof,”  con- 
tinued the  old  gentleman,  mounting  the  stairs  be- 
fore his  guest;  “for  good  food,  honest  wine,  a 


PRINCE  OTTO 


23 


grateful  conscience,  and  a little  pleasant  chat 
before  a man  retires,  are  worth  all  the  possets  and 
apothecary’s  drugs.  See,  sir,”  and  here  he  opened 
a door  and  ushered  Otto  into  a little  whitewashed 
sleeping-room,  “ here  you  are  in  port.  It  is  small, 
but  it  is  airy,  and  the  sheets  are  clean  and  kept 
in  lavender.  The  window,  too,  looks  out  above  the 
river,  and  there  ’s  no  music  like  a little  river’s. 
It  plays  the  same  tune  (and  that’s  the  favourite) 
over  and  over  again,  and  yet  does  not  weary  of 
it  like  men  fiddlers.  It  takes  the  mind  out-of- 
doors  ; and  though  we  should  be  grateful  for  good 
houses,  there  is,  after  all,  no  house  like  God’s  out- 
of-doors.  And  lastly,  sir,  it  quiets  a man  down 
like  saying  his  prayers.  So  here,  sir,  I take  my 
kind  leave  of  you  until  to-morrow;  and  it  is  my 
prayerful  wish  that  you  may  slumber  like  a prince.” 
And  the  old  man,  with  the  twentieth  courteous 
inclination,  left  his  guest  alone. 


CHAPTER  III 


IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCE  COMFORTS  AGE  AND 
BEAUTY  AND  DELIVERS  A LECTURE  ON 
DISCRETION  IN  LOVE 

THE  Prince  was  early  abroad : in  the  time 
of  the  first  chorus  of  birds,  of  the  pure 
and  quiet  air,  of  the  slanting  sunlight 
and  the  mile-long  shadows.  To  one  who  had 
passed  a miserable  night,  the  freshness  of  that 
hour  was  tonic  and  reviving;  to  steal  a march 
upon  his  slumbering  fellows,  to  be  the  Adam  of 
the  coming  day,  composed  and  fortified  his  spirits; 
and  the  Prince,  breathing  deep  and  pausing  as  he 
went,  walked  in  the  wet  fields  beside  his  shadow, 
and  was  glad. 

A trellised  path  led  down  into  the  valley  of  the 
brook,  and  he  turned  to  follow  it.  The  stream  was 
a breakneck,  boiling  Highland  river.  Hard  by  the 
farm,  it  leaped  a little  precipice  in  a thick  grey- 
mare’s  tail  of  twisted  filaments,  and  then  lay  and 
worked  and  bubbled  in  a linn.  Into  the  middle 
of  this  quaking  pool  a rock  protruded,  shelving  to 


PRINCE  OTTO 


25 

a cape;  and  thither  Otto  scrambled  and  sat  down 
to  ponder. 

Soon  the  sun  struck  through  the  screen  of 
branches  and  thin  early  leaves  that  made  a hang- 
ing bower  above  the  fall ; and  the  golden  lights  and 
flitting  shadows  fell  upon  and  marbled  the  surface 
of  that  seething  pot ; and  rays  plunged  deep  among 
the  turning  waters;  and  a spark,  as  bright  as  a 
diamond,  lit  upon  the  swaying  eddy.  It  began 
to  grow  warm  where  Otto  lingered,  warm  and 
heady ; the  lights  swam,  weaving  their  maze  across 
the  shaken  pool ; on  the  impending  rock,  reflec- 
tions danced  like  butterflies ; and  the  air  was 
fanned  by  the  waterfall  as  by  a swinging  curtain. 

Otto,  who  was  weary  with  tossing  and  beset 
with  horrid  phantoms  of  remorse  and  jealousy, 
instantly  fell  dead  in  love  with  that  sun-chequered, 
echoing  corner.  Holding  his  feet,  he  stared  out 
of  a drowsy  trance,  wondering,  admiring,  musing, 
losing  his  way  among  uncertain  thoughts.  There 
is  nothing  that  so  apes  the  external  bearing  of  free 
will,  as  that  unconscious  bustle,  obscurely  follow- 
ing liquid  laws,  with  which  a river  contends  among 
obstructions.  It  seems  the  very  play  of  man  and 
destiny,  and  as  Otto  pored  on  these  recurrent 
changes,  he  grew,  by  equal  steps,  the  sleepier  and 
the  more  profound.  Eddy  and  Prince  were  alike 
jostled  in  their  purpose,  alike  anchored  by  intan- 


26 


PRINCE  OTTO 


gible  influences  in  one  corner  of  the  world.  Eddy 
and  Prince  were  alike  useless,  starkly  useless,  in 
the  cosmology  of  men.  Eddy  and  Prince  — Prince 
and  Eddy. 

It  is  probable  he  had  been  some  while  asleep  when 
a voice  recalled  him  from  oblivion.  “ Sir,”  it  was 
saying;  and  looking  round,  he  saw  Mr.  Killian’s 
daughter,  terrified  by  her  boldness  and  making 
bashful  signals  from  the  shore.  She  was  a plain, 
honest  lass,  healthy  and  happy  and  good,  and  with 
that  sort  of  beauty  that  comes  of  happiness  and 
health.  But  her  confusion  lent  her  for  the  moment 
an  additional  charm. 

“ Good-morning,”  said  Otto,  rising  and  moving 
towards  her.  “ I arose  early  and  was  in  a dream.” 

“ O,  sir ! ” she  cried,  “ I wish  to  beg  of  you  to 
spare  my  father;  for  I assure  your  Highness,  if 
he  had  known  who  you  was,  he  would  have  bitten 
his  tongue  out  sooner.  And  Fritz,  too  — how  he 
went  on!  But  I had  a notion;  and  this  morning 
I went  straight  down  into  the  stable,  and  there  was 
your  Highness’s  crown  upon  the  stirrup-irons ! 
But,  O,  sir,  I made  certain  you  would  spare  them ; 
for  they  were  as  innocent  as  lambs.” 

“ My  dear,”  said  Otto,  both  amused  and  grati- 
fied, “you  do  not  understand.  It  is  I who  am  in  the 
wrong;  for  I had  no  business  to  conceal  my  name 
and  lead  on  these  gentlemen  to  speak  of  me.  And 


PRINCE  OTTO 


27 


it  is  I who  have  to  beg  of  you,  that  you  will 
keep  my  secret  and  not  betray  the  discourtesy  of 
which  I was  guilty.  As  for  any  fear  of  me,  your 
friends  are  safe  in  Gerolstein ; and  even  in  my 
own  territory,  you  must  be  well  aware  I have 
no  power.” 

“ O,  sir,”  she  said,  curtseying,  “ I would  not 
say  that:  the  huntsmen  would  all  die  for  you.” 

“ Happy  Prince ! ” said  Otto.  “ But  although 
you  are  too  courteous  to  avow  the  knowledge,  you 
have  had  many  opportunities  of  learning  that  I 
am  a vain  show.  Only  last  night  we  heard  it  very 
clearly  stated.  You  see  the  shadow  flitting  on  this 
hard  rock.  Prince  Otto,  I am  afraid,  is  but  the 
moving  shadow,  and  the  name  of  the  rock  is  Gon- 
dremark.  Ah!  if  your  friends  had  fallen  foul  of 
Gondremark ! But  happily  the  younger  of  the 
two  admires  him.  And  as  for  the  old  gentleman 
your  father,  he  is  a wise  man  and  an  excellent 
talker,  and  I would  take  a long  wager  he  is  honest.” 

“ O,  for  honest,  your  Highness,  that  he  is ! ” 
exclaimed  the  girl.  “ And  Fritz  is  as  honest  as  he. 
And  as  for  all  they  said,  it  was  just  talk  and  non- 
sense. When  countryfolk  get  gossiping,  they  go 
on,  I do  assure  you,  for  the  fun;  they  don't  as 
much  as  think  of  what  they  say.  If  you  went  to 
the  next  farm,  it ’s  my  belief  you  would  hear  as 
much  against  my  father.” 


28 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Nay,  nay,”  said  Otto,  “ there  you  go  too  fast. 

For  all  that  was  said  against  Prince  Otto ” 

“ O,  it  was  shameful!  ” cried  the  girl. 

“ Not  shameful  — true,”  returned  Otto.  “ O, 
yes  — true.  I am  all  they  said  of  me  — all  that 
and  worse.” 

“ I never ! ” cried  Ottilia.  “ Is  that  how  you 
do?  Well,  you  would  never  be  a soldier.  Now  if 
any  one  accuses  me,  I get  up  and  give  it  them. 
O,  I defend  myself.  I would  n’t  take  a fault 
at  another  person’s  hands,  no,  not  if  I had  it 
on  my  forehead.  And  that ’s  what  you  must 
do,  if  you  mean  to  live  it  out.  But,  indeed,  I 
never  heard  such  nonsense.  I should  think  you 
was  ashamed  of  yourself ! You  ’re  bald,  then,  I 
suppose  ? ” 

“ O,  no,”  said  Otto,  fairly  laughing.  “ There  I 
acquit  myself : not  bald ! ” 

“Well,  and  good?”  pursued  the  girl.  “Come 
now,  you  know  you  are  good,  and  I ’ll  make  you 
say  so.  . . . Your  Highness,  I beg  your  humble 
pardon.  But  there ’s  no  disrespect  intended.  And, 
anyhow,  you  know  you  are.” 

“ Why,  now,  what  am  I to  say  ? ” replied  Otto. 
“You  are  a cook,  and  excellently  well  you  do  it; 
I embrace  the  chance  of  thanking  you  for  the  ra- 
gout. Well  now,  have  you  not  seen  good  food  so 
bedevilled  by  unskilful  cookery  that  no  one  could 


PRINCE  OTTO 


19 


be  brought  to  eat  the  pudding?  That  is  me,  my 
dear.  I am  full  of  good  ingredients,  but  the  dish 
is  worthless.  I am  — I give  it  you  in  one  word  — 
sugar  in  the  salad.” 

“ Well,  I don’t  care,  you  ’re  good,”  reiterated 
Ottilia,  a little  flushed  by  having  failed  to  under- 
stand. 

“ I will  tell  you  one  thing,”  replied  Otto : “ you 
are!  ” 

“ Ah,  well,  that ’s  what  they  all  said  of  you,” 
moralised  the  girl : “ such  a tongue  to  come  round 
— such  a flattering  tongue ! ” 

“ O,  you  forget,  I am  a man  of  middle  age,” 
the  Prince  chuckled. 

“ Well,  to  speak  to  you,  I should  think  you  was 
a boy;  and  Prince  or  no  Prince,  if  you  came  worry- 
ing where  I was  cooking,  I would  pin  a napkin  to 
your  tails.  . . . And,  O Lord,  I declare  I hope 
your  Highness  will  forgive  me,”  the  girl  added. 
“ I can’t  keep  it  in  my  mind.” 

“No  more  can  I,”  cried  Otto.  “That  is  just 
what  they  complain  of ! ” 

They  made  a loverly-looking  couple;  only  the 
heavy  pouring  of  that  horse-tail  of  water  made 
them  raise  their  voices  above  lovers’  pitch.  But 
to  a j'ealous  onlooker  from  above,  their  mirth  and 
close  proximity  might  easily  give  umbrage;  and 
a rough  voice  out  of  a tuft  of  brambles  began 


3° 


PRINCE  OTTO 


calling  on  Ottilia  by  name.  She  changed  colour 
at  that.  “ It  is  Fritz,”  she  said.  “ I must  go.” 

“ Go,  my  dear,  and  I need  not  bid  you  go  in 
peace,  for  I think  you  have  discovered  that  I am 
not  formidable  at  close  quarters,”  said  the  Prince, 
and  made  her  a fine  gesture  of  dismissal. 

So  Ottilia  skipped  up  the  bank,  and  disappeared 
into  the  thicket,  stopping  once  for  a single  blush- 
ing bob  — blushing,  because  she  had  in  the  interval 
once  more  forgotten  and  remembered  the  stranger's 
quality. 

Otto  returned  to  his  rock  promontory;  but  his 
humour  had  in  the  meantime  changed.  The  sun 
now  shone  more  fairly  on  the  pool ; and  over  its 
brown,  welling  surface,  the  blue  of  heaven  and  the 
golden  green  of  the  spring  foliage  danced  in  fleet- 
ing arabesque.  The  eddies  laughed  and  brightened 
with  essential  colour.  And  the  beauty  of  the  dell 
began  to  rankle  in  the  Prince's  mind;  it  was  so 
near  to  his  own  borders,  yet  without.  He  had 
never  had  much  of  the  joy  of  possessorship  in  any 
of  the  thousand  and  one  beautiful  and  curious 
things  that  were  his ; and  now  he  was  conscious  of 
envy  for  what  was  another's.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
smiling,  dilettante  sort  of  envy;,  but  yet  there  it 
was : the  passion  of  Ahab  for  the  vineyard,  done 
in  little;  and  he  was  relieved  when  Mr.  Killian 
appeared  upon  the  scene. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


31 

“ I hope,  sir,  that  you  have  slept  well  under  my 
plain  roof,”  said  the  old  farmer. 

“ I am  admiring  this  sweet  spot  that  you  are 
privileged  to  dwell  in,”  replied  Otto,  evading  the 
inquiry. 

“ It  is  rustic,”  returned  Mr.  Gottesheim,  looking 
around  him  with  complacency,  “ a very  rustic  cor- 
ner; and  some  of  the  land  to  the  west  is  most 
excellent  fat  land,  excellent  deep  soil.  You  should 
see  my  wheat  in  the  ten-acre  field.  There  is  not 
a farm  in  Grunewald,  no,  nor  many  in  Gerolstein, 
to  match  the  River  Farm.  Some  sixty  — I keep 
thinking  when  I sow  — some  sixty,  and  some  sev- 
enty, and  some  an  hundredfold ; and  my  own  place, 
six-score!  But  that,  sir,  is  partly  the  farming.” 

“ And^the  stream  has  fish?  ” asked  Otto. 

“ A fish-pond,”  said  the  farmer.  “ Ay,  it  is  a 
pleasant  bit.  It  is  pleasant  even  here,  if  one  had 
time,  with  the  brook  drumming  in  that  black  pool, 
and  the  green  things  hanging  all  about  the  rocks, 
and,  dear  heart,  to  see  the  very  pebbles ! all  turned 
to  gold  and  precious  stones!  But  you  have  come 
to  that  time  of  life,  sir,  when,  if  you  will  excuse 
me,  you  must  look  to  have  the  rheumatism  set  in. 
Thirty  to  forty  is,  as  one  may  say,  their  seedtime. 
And  this  is  a damp  cold  corner  for  the  early 
morning  and  an  empty  stomach.  If  I might  humbly 
advise  you,  sir,  I would  be  moving.” 


32 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ With  all  my  heart/’  said  Otto,  gravely.  “ And 
so  you  have  lived  your  life  here?”  he  added,  as 
they  turned  to  go. 

“ Here  I was  born,”  replied  the  farmer,  “ and 
here  I wish  I could  say  I was  to  die.  But  fortune, 
sir,  fortune  turns  the  wheel.  They  say  she  is  blind, 
but  we  will  hope  she  only  sees  a little  farther  on. 
My  grandfather  and  my  father  and  I,  we  have  all 
tilled  these  acres,  my  furrow  following  theirs.  All 
the  three  names  are  on  the  garden  bench,  two 
Killians  and  one  Johann.  Yes,  sir,  good  men  have 
prepared  themselves  for  the  great  change  in  my 
old  garden.  Well  do  I mind  my  father,  in  a woollen 
night-cap,  the  good  soul,  going  round  and  round 
to  see  the  last  of  it.  ‘ Killian/  said  he,  4 do  you 
see  the  smoke  of  my  tobacco?  Why/  said  he, 
6 that  is  man’s  life.’  It  was  his  last  pipe,  and  I 
believe  he  knew  it;  and  it  was  a strange  thing, 
without  doubt,  to  leave  the  trees  that  he  had 
planted,  and  the  son  that  he  had  begotten,  ay,  sir, 
and  even  the  old  pipe  with  the  Turk’s  head  that 
he  had  smoked  since  he  was  a lad  and  went  a- 
courting.  But  here  we  have  no  continuing 
city ; and  as  for  the  eternal,  it ’s  a comfortable 
thought  that  we  have  other  merits  than  our  own. 
And  yet  you  would  hardly  think  how  sore  it 
goes  against  the  grain  with  me,  to  die  in  a 
strange  bed.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  33 

“ And  must  you  do  so?  For  what  reason ?" 
Otto  asked. 

“ The  reason?  The  place  is  to  be  sold;  three 
thousand  crowns/'  replied  Mr.  Gottesheim.  “ Had 
it  been  a third  of  that,  I may  say  without  boasting 
that,  what  with  my  credit  and  my  savings,  I could 
have  met  the  sum.  But  at  three  thousand,  unless 
I have  singular  good  fortune  and  the  new  pro- 
prietor continues  me  in  office,  there  is  nothing  left 
me  but  to  budge." 

Otto's  fancy  for  the  place  redoubled  at  the  news, 
and  became  joined  with  other  feelings.  If  all  he 
heard  were  true,  Griinewald  was  growing  very 
hot  for  a sovereign  Prince;  it  might  be  well  to 
have  a refuge;  and  if  so,  what  more  delightful 
hermitage  could  man  imagine?  Mr.  Gottesheim, 
besides,  had  touched  his  sympathies.  Every  man 
loves  in  his  soul  to  play  the  part  of  the  stage  deity. 
And  to  step  down  to  the  aid  of  the  old  farmer, 
who  had  so  roughly  handled  him  in  talk,  was  the 
ideal  of  a Fair  Revenge.  Otto's  thoughts  bright- 
ened at  the  prospect,  and  he  began  to  regard  him- 
self with  a renewed  respect. 

“ I can  find  you,  I believe,  a purchaser,"  he  said, 
“ and  one  who  would  continue  to  avail  himself  of 
your  skill." 

“ Can  you,  sir,  indeed?"  said  the  old  man. 
“ Well,  I shall  be  heartily  obliged;  for  I begin  to 

VOL.  v.  — 3 


34 


PRINCE  OTTO 


find  a man  may  practise  resignation  all  his  days, 
as  he  takes  physic,  and  not  come  to  like  it  in  the 
end.” 

“If  you  will  have  the  papers  drawn,  you  may 
even  burthen  the  purchase  with  your  interest,” 
said  Otto.  “ Let  it  be  assured  to  you  through 
life.” 

“ Your  friend,  sir,”  insinuated  Killian,  “ would 
not,  perhaps,  care  to  make  the  interest  reversible? 
Fritz  is  a good  lad.” 

“Fritz  is  young,”  said  the  Prince,  drily;  “he 
must  earn  consideration,  not  inherit.” 

“ He  has  long  worked  upon  the  place,  sir,”  in- 
sisted Mr.  Gottesheim ; “ and  at  my  great  age,  for 
I am  seventy-eight  come  harvest,  it  would  be  a 
troublesome  thought  to  the  proprietor  how  to  fill 
my  shoes.  It  would  be  a care  spared  to  assure 
yourself  of  Fritz.  And  I believe  he  might  be 
tempted  by  a permanency.” 

“ The  young  man  has  unsettled  views,”  returned 
Otto. 

“ Possibly  the  purchaser ” began  Killian. 

A little  spot  of  anger  burned  in  Otto’s  cheek. 
“ I am  the  purchaser,”  he  said. 

“ It  was  what  I might  have  guessed,”  replied 
the  farmer,  bowing  with  an  aged,  obsequious  dig- 
nity. “You  have  made  an  old  man  very  happy; 
and  I may  say,  indeed,  that  I have  entertained  an 


PRINCE  OTTO 


35 


angel  unawares.  Sir,  the  great  people  of  this  world 
- — and  by  that  I mean  those  who  are  great  in 
station  — if  they  had  only  hearts  like  yours,  how 
they  would  make  the  fires  burn  and  the  poor 
sing!  ” 

“ I would  not  judge  them  hardly,  sir,”  said  Otto. 
“We  all  have  our  frailties.” 

“ Truly,  sir,”  said  Mr.  Gottesheim,  with  unction. 
“ And  by  what  name,  sir,  am  I to  address  my  gen- 
erous landlord  ? ” 

The  double  recollection  of  an  English  traveller, 
whom  he  had  received  the  week  before  at  Court, 
and  of  an  old  English  rogue  called  Transome, 
whom  he  had  known  in  youth,  came  pertinently 
to  the  Prince’s  help.  “ Transome,”  he  answered, 
“ is  my  name.  I am  an  English  traveller.  It  is, 
to-day,  Tuesday.  On  Thursday,  before  noon,  the 
money  shall  be  ready.  Let  us  meet,  if  you  please, 
in  Mittwalden,  at  the  4 Morning  Star.’  ” 

“ I am,  in  all  things  lawful,  your  servant  to 
command,”  replied  the  farmer.  44  An  Englishman ! 
You  are  a great  race  of  travellers.  And  has  your 
lordship  some  experience  of  land?” 

44 1 have  had  some  interest  of  the  kind  before,” 
returned  the  Prince;  44  not  in  Gerolstein,  indeed. 
But  fortune,  as  you  say,  turns  the  wheel,  and  I 
desire  to  be  beforehand  with  her  revolutions.” 

44  Very  right,  sir,  I am  sure,”  said  Mr.  Killian. 


j6  PRINCE  OTTO 

They  had  been  strolling  with  deliberation ; but 
they  were  now  drawing  near  to  the  farmhouse, 
mounting  by  the  trellised  pathway  to  the  level  of 
the  meadow.  A little  before  them,  the  sound  of 
voices  had  been  some  while  audible,  and  now  grew 
loudjer  and  more  distinct  with  every  step  of  their 
advance.  Presently,  when  they  emerged  upon  the 
top  of  the  bank,  they  beheld  Fritz  and  Ottilia  some 
way  off ; he,  very  black  and  bloodshot,  emphasis- 
ing his  hoarse  speech  with  the  smacking  of  his  fist 
against  his  palm ; she,  standing  a little  way  off  in 
blowsy,  voluble  distress. 

“ Dear  me ! ” said  Mr.  Gottesheim,  and  made 
as  if  he  would  turn  aside. 

But  Otto  went  straight  towards  the  lovers,  in 
whose  dissension  he  believed  himself  to  have  a 
share.  And,  indeed,  as  soon  as  he  had  seen  the 
Prince,  Fritz  had  stood  tragic,  as  if  awaiting  and 
defying  his  approach. 

“ O,  here  you  are ! ” he  cried,  as  soon  as  they 
were  near  enough  for  easy  speech.  “ You  are  a 
man  at  least,  and  must  reply.  What  were  you 
after?  Why  were  you  two  skulking  in  the  bush? 
God ! ” he  broke  out,  turning  again  upon  Ottilia, 
“ to  think  that  I should  waste  my  heart  on  you ! ” 

“ I beg  your  pardon/’  Otto  cut  in.  “ You  were 
addressing  me.  In  virtue  of  what  circumstance 
am  I to  render  you  an  account  of  this  young  lady’s 


PRINCE  OTTO 


37 

conduct?  Are  you  her  father?  her  brother?  her 
husband?  ” 

“ O,  sir,  you  know  as  well  as  I,”  returned  the 
peasant.  “ We  keep  company,  she  and  I.  I love 
her,  and  she  is  by  way  of  loving  me ; but  all  shall 
be  aboveboard,  I would  have  her  to  know.  I have 
a good  pride  of  my  own.” 

“ Why,  I perceive  I must  explain  to  you  what 
love  is,”  said  Otto.  “ Its  measure  is  kindness.  It 
is  very  possible  that  you  are  proud;  but  she,  too, 
may  have  some  self-esteem;  I do  not  speak  for 
myself.  And  perhaps,  if  your  own  doings  were 
so  curiously  examined,  you  might  find  it  incon- 
venient to  reply.” 

“ These  are  all  set-offs,”  said  the  young  man. 
“ You  know  very  well  that  a man  is  a man,  and  a 
woman  only  a woman.  That  holds  good  all  over, 
up  and  down.  I ask  you  a question,  I ask  it  again, 
and  here  I stand.”  He  drew  a mark  and  toed  it. 

“ When  you  have  studied  liberal  doctrines  some- 
what deeper,”  said  the  Prince,  “ you  will  perhaps 
change  your  note.  You  are  a man  of  false  weights 
and  measures,  my  young  friend.  You  have  one 
scale  for  women,  another  for  men ; one  for 
princes,  and  one  for  farmer-folk.  On  the  prince 
who  neglects  his  wife  you  can  be  most  severe. 
But  what  of  the  lover  who  insults  his  mistress? 
You  use  the  name  of  love.  I should  think  this 


38 


PRINCE  OTTO 


lady  might  very  fairly  ask  to  be  delivered  from 
love  of  such  a nature.  For  if  I,  a stranger,  had 
been  one-tenth  part  so  gross  and  so  discourteous, 
you  would  most  righteously  have  broke  my  head. 
It  would  have  been  in  your  part,  as  lover,  to  pro- 
tect her  from  such  insolence.  Protect  her  first, 
then,  from  yourself.” 

“ Ay/’  quoth  Mr.  Gottesheim,  who  had  been 
looking  on  with  his  hands  behind  his  tall  old  back, 
“ ay,  that 's  scripture  truth.” 

Fritz  was  staggered,  not  only  by  the  Prince's 
imperturbable  superiority  of  manner,  but  by  a 
glimmering  consciousness  that  he  himself  was  in 
the  wrong.  The  appeal  to  liberal  doctrines  had, 
besides,  unmanned  him. 

“ Well,”  said  he,  “ if  I was  rude,  I 'll  own  to  it. 
I meant  no  ill,  and  did  nothing  out  of  my  just 
rights ; but  I am  above  all  these  old  vulgar  notions 
too;  and  if  I spoke  sharp,  I 'll  ask  her  pardon.” 

“ Freely  granted,  Fritz,”  said  Ottilia. 

“ But  all  this  does  n’t  answer  me,”  cried  Fritz. 
“ I ask  what  you  two  spoke  about.  She  says  she 
promised  not  to  tell ; well,  then,  I mean  to  know. 
Civility  is  civility;  but  I'll  be  no  man’s  gull.  I 
have  a right  to  common  justice,  if  I do  keep 
company ! ” 

“ If  you  will  ask  Mr.  Gottesheim,”  replied  Otto, 
“ you  will  find  I have  not  spent  my  hours  in  idle- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


39 


ness.  I have,  since  I arose  this  morning,  agreed 
to  buy  the  farm.  So  far  I will  go  to  satisfy  a 
curiosity  which  I condemn.” 

“ O,  well,  if  there  was  business,  that ’s  another 
matter,”  returned  Fritz.  “ Though  it  beats  me 
why  you  could  not  tell.  But,  of  course,  if  the 
gentleman  is  to  buy  the  farm,  I suppose  there 
would  naturally  be  an  end.” 

“ To  be  sure,”  said  Mr.  Gottesheim,  with  a 
strong  accent  of  conviction. 

But  Ottilia  was  much  braver.  “ There  now ! ” 
she  cried  in  triumph.  “ What  did  I tell  you?  I 
told  you  I was  fighting  your  battles.  Now  you 
see ! Think  shame  of  your  suspicious  temper ! 
You  should  go  down  upon  your  bended  knees 
both  to  that  gentleman  and  me.” 


CHAPTER  IV 


IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCE  COLLECTS  OPINIONS 
BY  THE  WAY 

A LITTLE  before  noon  Otto,  by  a triumph 
of  manoeuvring,  effected  his  escape.  He 
was  quit  in  this  way  of  the  ponderous 
gratitude  of  Mr.  Killian,  and  of  the  confidential 
gratitude  of  poor  Ottilia;  but  of  Fritz  he  was  not 
quit  so  readily.  That  young  politician,  brimming 
with  mysterious  glances,  offered  to  lend  his  convoy 
as  far  as  to  the  highroad;  and  Otto,  in  fear  of 
some  residuary  jealousy  and  for  the  girl’s  sake, 
had  not  the  courage  to  gainsay  him;  but  he  re- 
garded his  companion  with  uneasy  glances,  and 
devoutly  wished  the  business  at  an  end.  For  some 
time  Fritz  walked  by  the  mare  in  silence;  and 
they  had  already  traversed  more  than  half  the  pro- 
posed distance  when,  with  something  of  a blush, 
he  looked  up  and  opened  fire. 

“ Are  you  not ,”  he  asked,  “ what  they  call  a 
socialist?  ” 

“ Why,  no,”  returned  Otto,  “ not  precisely  what 
they  call  so.  Why  do  you  ask  ? ” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


4i 


“ I will  tell  you  why/’  said  the  young  man.  “ I 
saw  from  the  first  that  you  were  a red  progres- 
sional,  and  nothing  but  the  fear  of  old  Killian 
kept  you  back.  And  there,  sir,  you  were  right: 
old  men  are  always  cowards.  But  nowadays,  you 
see,  there  are  so  many  groups : you  can  never  tell 
how  far  the  likeliest  kind  of  man  may  be  prepared 
to  go;  and  I was  never  sure  you  were  one  of  the 
strong  thinkers,  till  you  hinted  about  women  and 
free  love.” 

“ Indeed,”  cried  Otto,  “ I never  said  a word  of 
such  a thing.” 

“ Not  you!”  cried  Fritz.  “ Never  a word  to 
compromise!  You  was  sowing  seed:  groundbait, 
our  president  calls  it.  But  it ’s  hard  to  deceive  me, 
for  I know  all  the  agitators  and  their  ways,  and 
all  the  doctrines ; and  between  you  and  me,”  low- 
ering his  voice,  “ I am  myself  affiliated.  O,  yes, 
I am  a secret  society  man,  and  here  is  my  medal.” 
And  drawing  out  a green  ribbon  that  he  wore 
about  his  neck,  he  held  up,  for  Otto’s  inspection, 
a pewter  medal  bearing  the  imprint  of  a Phoenix 
and  the  legend,  Libertas.  “ And  so  now  you  see 
you  may  trust  me,”  added  Fritz.  “ I am  none  of 
your  ale-house  talkers;  I am  a convinced  revo- 
lutionary.” And  he  looked  meltingly  upon  Otto. 

“ I see,”  replied  the  Prince ; “ that  is  very  grati- 
fying. Well,  sir,  the  great  thing  for  the  good  of 


42 


PRINCE  OTTO 


one’s  country  is,  first  of  all,  to  be  a good  man. 
All  springs  from  there.  For  my  part,  although 
you  are  right  in  thinking  that  I have  to  do  with 
politics,  I am  unfit  by  intellect  and  temper  for  a 
leading  role.  I was  intended,  I fear,  for  a sub- 
altern. Yet  we  have  all  something  to  command, 
Mr.  Fritz,  if  it  be  only  our  own  temper;  and  a 
man  about  to  marry  must  look  closely  to  himself. 
The  husband’s,  like  the  prince’s,  is  a very  artificial 
standing;  and  it  is  hard  to  be  kind  in  either.  Do 
you  follow  that?” 

“ O,  yes,  I follow  that,”  replied  the  young  man, 
sadly  chop-fallen  over  the  nature  of  the  informa- 
tion he  had  elicited ; and  then  brightening  up : 
“ Is  it,”  he  ventured,  “ is  it  for  an  arsenal  that 
you  have  bought  the  farm  ? ” 

“ We  ’ll  see  about  that,”  the  Prince  answered, 
laughing.  “ You  must  not  be  too  zealous.  And 
in  the  meantime,  if  I were  you,  I would  say  noth- 
ing on  the  subject.” 

“ O,  trust  me,  sir,  for  that,”  cried  Fritz,  as  he 
pocketed  a crown.  “ And  you ’ve  let  nothing  out ; 
for  I suspected  — I might  say  I knew  it  — from 
the  first.  And  mind  you,  when  a guide  is  re- 
quired,” he  added,  “ I know  all  the  forest  paths.” 

Otto  rode  away,  chuckling.  This  talk  with  Fritz 
had  vastly  entertained  him ; nor  was  he  altogether 
discontented  with  his  bearing  at  the  farm;  men, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


43 


he  was  able  to  tell  himself,  had  behaved  worse 
under  smaller  provocation.  And,  to  harmonise  all, 
the  road  and  the  April  air  were  both  delightful  to 
his  soul. 

Up  and  down,  and  to  and  fro,  ever  mounting 
through  the  wooded  foothills,  the  broad,  white 
highroad  wound  onward  into  Grunewald.  On 
either  hand  the  pines  stood  coolly  rooted  — green 
moss  prospering,  springs  welling  forth  between 
their  knuckled  spurs ; and  though  some  were  broad 
and  stalwart,  and  others  spiry  and  slender,  yet  all 
stood  firm  in  the  same  attitude  and  with  the  same 
expression,  like  a silent  army  presenting  arms. 

The  road  lay  all  the  way  apart  from  towns  and 
villages,  which  it  left  on  either  hand.  Here  and 
there,  indeed,  in  the  bottom  of  green  glens,  the 
Prince  could  spy  a few  congregated  roofs,  or  per- 
haps above  him,  on  a shoulder,  the  solitary  cabin 
of  a woodman.  But  the  highway  was  an  inter- 
national undertaking,  and  with  its  face  set  for 
distant  cities,  scorned  the  little  life  of  Grunewald. 
Hence  it  was  exceeding  solitary.  Near  the  fron- 
tier Otto  met  a detachment  of  his  own  troops 
marching  in  the  hot  dust;  and  he  was  recognised 
and  somewhat  feebly  cheered  as  he  rode  by.  But 
from  that  time  forth  and  for  a long  while  he  was 
alone  with  the  great  woods. 

Gradually  the  spell  of  pleasure  relaxed ; his  own 


44 


PRINCE  OTTO 


thoughts  returned,  like  stinging  insects,  in  a cloud ; 
and  the  talk  of  the  night  before,  like  a shower  of 
buffets,  fell  upon  his  memory.  He  looked  east 
and  west  for  any  comforter ; and  presently  he 
was  aware  of  a cross-road  coming  steeply  down- 
hill, and  a horseman  cautiously  descending.  A 
human  voice  or  presence,  like  a spring  in  the  desert, 
was  now  welcome  in  itself,  and  Otto  drew  bridle  to 
await  the  coming  of  this  stranger.  He  proved  to 
be  a very  red-faced,  thick-lipped  countryman,  with 
a pair  of  fat  saddle-bags  and  a stone  bottle  at  his 
waist;  who,  as  soon  as  the  Prince  hailed  him, 
jovially,  if  somewhat  thickly,  answered.  At  the 
same  time  he  gave  a beery  yaw  in  the  saddle.  It 
was  clear  his  bottle  was  no  longer  full. 

“ Do  you  ride  towards  Mittwalden?  ” asked  the 
Prince. 

“ As  far  as  the  cross-road  to  Tannenbrunn,”  the 
man  replied.  “ Will  you  bear  company?  ” 

“ With  pleasure.  I have  even  waited  for  you  on 
the  chance/'  answered  Otto. 

By  this  time  they  were  close  alongside;  and 
the  man,  with  the  countryfolk  instinct,  turned  his 
cloudy  vision  first  of  all  on  his  companion’s  mount. 
“ The  devil!  ” he  cried.  “ You  ride  a bonny  mare, 
friend ! ” And  then,  his  curiosity  being  satisfied 
about  the  essential,  he  turned  his  attention  to  that 
merely  secondary  matter,  his  companion’s  face.  He 


PRINCE  OTTO 


45 


started.  “ The  Prince ! ” he  cried,  saluting,  with 
another  yaw  that  came  near  dismounting  him. 
“ I beg  your  pardon,  your  Highness,  not  to  have 
recognised  you  at  once.” 

The  Prince  was  vexed  out  of  his  self-possession. 
“ Since  you  know  me,”  he  said,  “ it  is  unnecessary 
we  should  ride  together.  I will  precede  you,  if 
you  please.”  And  he  was  about  to  set  spur  to 
the  grey  mare,  when  the  half-drunken  fellow, 
reaching  over,  laid  his  hand  upon  the  rein. 

“ Hark  you,”  he  said,  “ prince  or  no  prince, 
that  is  not  how  one  man  should  conduct  himself 
with  another.  What!  You  ’ll  ride  with  me  incog, 
and  set  me  talking!  But  if  I know  you,  you’ll 
preshede  me,  if  you  please!  Spy!  ” And  the  fel- 
low, crimson  with  drink  and  injured  vanity,  almost 
spat  the  word  into  the  Prince’s  face. 

A horrid  confusion  came  over  Otto.  He  per- 
ceived that  he  had  acted  rudely,  grossly  presum- 
ing on  his  station.  And  perhaps  a little  shiver  of 
physical  alarm  mingled  with  his  remorse,  for  the 
fellow  was  very  powerful  and  not  more  than  half 
in  the  possession  of  his  senses.  “ Take  your  hand 
from  my  rein,”  he  said,  with  a sufficient  assump- 
tion of  command;  and  when  the  man,  rather  to 
his  wonder,  had  obeyed : “ You  should  understand, 
sir,”  he  added,  “ that  while  I might  be  glad  to 
ride  with  you  as  one  person  of  sagacity  with  an- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


46 

other,  and  so  receive  your  true  opinions,  it  would 
amuse  me  very  little  to  hear  the  empty  compli- 
ments you  would  address  to  me  as  Prince.” 

“ You  think  I would  lie,  do  you?”  cried  the 
man  with  the  bottle,  purpling  deeper. 

“ I know  you  would,”  returned  Otto,  entering 
entirely  into  his  self-possession.  “ You  would  not 
even  show  me  the  medal  you  wear  about  your 
neck.”  For  he  had  caught  a glimpse  of  a green 
ribbon  at  the  fellow’s  throat. 

The  change  was  instantaneous : the  red  face 
became  mottled  with  yellow;  a thick-fingered,  tot- 
tering hand  made  a clutch  at  the  tell-tale  ribbon. 
“ Medal ! ” the  man  cried,  wonderfully  sobered. 
“ I have  no  medal.” 

“ Pardon  me,”  said  the  Prince.  “ I will  even 
tell  you  what  that  medal  bears:  a Phoenix  burn- 
ing, with  the  word  Libertas .”  The  medallist  re- 
maining speechless,  “ You  are  a pretty  fellow,” 
continued  Otto,  smiling,  “ to  complain  of  incivility 
from  the  man  whom  you  conspire  to  murder.” 

“ Murder!”  protested  the  man.  “ Nay,  never 

that;  nothing  criminal  for  me!” 

* 

“ You  are  strangely  misinformed,”  said  Otto. 
“ Conspiracy  itself  is  criminal,  and  insures  the 
pain  of  death.  Nay,  sir,  death  it  is;  I will  guar- 
antee my  accuracy.  Not  that  you  need  be  so 
deplorably  affected,  for  I am  no  officer.  But  those 


PRINCE  OTTO 


47 

who  mingle  with  politics  should  look  at  both  sides 
of  the  medal.” 

“ Your  Highness  . . .”  began  the  knight  of  the 
bottle. 

“ Nonsense!  you  are  a Republican,”  cried  Otto; 
“ what  have  you  to  do  with  highnesses  ? But  let 
us  continue  to  ride  forward.  Since  you  so  much 
desire  it,  I cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  deprive 
you  of  my  company.  And  for  that  matter,  I have 
a question  to  address  to  you.  Why,  being  so  great 
a body  of  men  — for  you  are  a great  body  — fif- 
teen thousand,  I have  heard,  but  that  will  be  under- 
stated; am  I right?” 

The  man  gurgled  in  his  throat. 

“ Why,  then,  being  so  considerable  a party,” 
resumed  Otto,  “ do  you  not  come  before  me  boldly 
with  your  wants  ? — what  do  I say  ? with  your 
commands?  Have  I the  name  of  being  passion- 
ately devoted  to  my  throne?  I can  scarce  suppose 
it.  Come,  then;  show  me  your  majority,  and  I 
will  instantly  resign.  Tell  this  to  your  friends; 
assure  them  from  me  of  my  docility ; assure  them 
that,  however  they  conceived  of  my  deficiencies, 
they  cannot  suppose  me  more  unfit  to  be  a ruler 
than  I do  myself.  I am  one  of  the  worst  princes 
in  Europe;  will  they  improve  on  that?” 

“ Far  be  it  from  me  . , . ” the  man  began. 

“ See,  now,  if  you  will  not  defend  my  govern- 


4b  prince  otto 

ment!”  cried  Otto.  “If  I were  you,  I would 
leave  conspiracies.  You  are  as  little  fit  to  be  a 
conspirator  as  I to  be  a king.” 

“ One  thing  I will  say  out,”  said  the  man.  “ It 
is  not  so  much  you  that  we  complain  of,  it ’s  your 
lady.” 

“ Not  a word,  sir,”  said  the  Prince  ; and  then 
after  a moment’s  pause,  and  in  tones  of  some 
anger  and  contempt : “ I once  more  advise  you  to 
have  done  with  politics,”  he  added;  “and  when 
next  I see  you,  let  me  see  you  sober.  A morning 
drunkard  is  the  last  man  to  sit  in  judgment  even 
upon  the  worst  of  princes.” 

“ I have  had  a drop,  but  I had  not  been  drink- 
ing,” the  man  replied,  triumphing  in  a sound  dis- 
tinction. “And  if  I had,  what  then?  Nobody 
hangs  by  me.  But  my  mill  is  standing  idle,  and 
I blame  it  on  your  wife.  Am  I alone  in  that? 
Go  round  and  ask.  Where  are  the  mills?  Where 
are  the  young  men  that  should  be  working? 
Where  is  the  currency?  All  paralysed.  No,  sir, 
it  is  not  equal ; for  I suffer  for  your  faults  — I 
pay  for  them,  by  George,  out  of  a poor  man’s 
pocket.  And  what  have  you  to  do  with  mine? 
Drunk  or  sober,  I can  see  my  country  going  to 
hell,  and  I can  see  whose  fault  it  is.  And  so  now, 
I ’ve  said  my  say,  and  you  may  drag  me  to  a 
stinking  dungeon ; what  care  I ? I ’ve  spoke  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


49 

truth,  and  so  I ’ll  hold  hard,  and  not  intrude  upon 
your  Highness’s  society.” 

And  the  miller  reined  up  and,  clumsily  enough, 
saluted. 

“ You  will  observe,  I have  not  asked  your 
name,”  said  Otto.  “ I wish  you  a good  ride,” 
and  he  rode  on  hard.  But  let  him  ride  as  he 
pleased,  this  interview  with  the  miller  was  a choke- 
pear,  which  he  could  not  swallow.  He  had  begun 
by  receiving  a reproof  in  manners,  and  ended  by 
sustaining  a defeat  in  logic,  both  from  a man  whom 
he  despised.  All  his  old  thoughts  returned  with 
fresher  venom.  And  by  three  in  the  afternoon, 
coming  to  the  cross-roads  for  Beckstein,  Otto  de- 
cided to  turn  aside  and  dine  there  leisurely.  Noth- 
ing at  least  could  be  worse  than  to  go  on  as  he 
was  going. 

In  the  inn  at  Beckstein  he  remarked,  immedi- 
ately upon  his  entrance,  an  intelligent  young  gen- 
tleman dining,  with  a book  in  front  of  him.  He 
had  his  own  place  laid  close  to  the  reader,  and 
with  a proper  apology,  broke  ground  by  asking 
what  he  read. 

“ I am  perusing,”  answered  the  young  gentle- 
man, “ the  last  work  of  the  Herr  Doctor  Hohen- 
stockwitz,  cousin  and  librarian  of  your  Prince  here 
in  Griinewald  — a man  of  great  erudition  and 
some  lambencies  of  wit.” 

VOL.  v.  — 4 


5° 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ I am  acquainted,”  said  Otto,  “ with  the  Herr 
Doctor,  though  not  yet  with  his  work.” 

“ Two  privileges  that  I must  envy  you,”  replied 
the  young  man,  politely : “ an  honour  in  hand,  a 
pleasure  in  the  bush.” 

“ The  Herr  Doctor  is  a man  much  respected,  I 
believe,  for  his  attainments?”  asked  the  Prince. 

“ He  is,  sir,  a remarkable  instance  of  the  force 
of  intellect,”  replied  the  reader.  “ Who  of  our 
young  men  know  anything  of  his  cousin,  all  reign- 
ing Prince  although  he  be?  Who  but  has  heard 
of  Doctor  Gotthold  ? But  intellectual  merit,  alone 
of  all  distinctions,  has  its  base  in  nature.” 

“ I have  the  gratification  of  addressing  a stu- 
dent — perhaps  an  author  ? ” Otto  suggested. 

The  young  man  somewhat  flushed.  “ I have 
some  claim  to  both  distinctions,  sir,  as  you  sup- 
pose,” said  he ; “ there  is  my  card.  I am  the 
licentiate  Roederer,  author  of  several  works  on 
the  theory  and  practice  of  politics.” 

“ You  immensely  interest  me,”  said  the  Prince; 
“ the  more  so  as  I gather  that  here  in  Griinewald 
we  are  on  the  brink  of  revolution.  Pray,  since 
these  have  been  your  special  studies,  would  you 
augur  hopefully  of  such  a movement?” 

“ I perceive,”  said  the  young  author,  with  a cer- 
tain vinegary  twitch,  “ that  you  are  unacquainted 
with  my  opuscula.  I am  a convinced  authorita- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


5i 


rian.  I share  none  of  those  illusory,  Utopian 
fancies  with  which  empirics  blind  themselves  and 
exasperate  the  ignorant.  The  day  of  these  ideas 
is,  believe  me,  past,  or  at  least  passing/' 

“ When  I look  about  me " began  Otto. 

“ When  you  look  about  you,"  interrupted  the 
licentiate,  “ you  behold  the  ignorant.  But  in  the 
laboratory  of  opinion,  beside  the  studious  lamp, 
we  begin  already  to  discard  these  figments.  We 
begin  to  return  to  nature’s  order,  to  what  I might 
call,  if  I were  to  borrow  from  the  language  of 
therapeutics,  the  expectant  treatment  of  abuses. 
You  will  not  misunderstand  me,"  he  continued : 
“ a country  in  the  condition  in  which  we  find 
Griinewald,  a prince  such  as  your  Prince  Otto,  we 
must  explicitly  condemn ; they  are  behind  the  age. 
But  I would  look  for  a remedy  not  to  brute  con- 
vulsions, but  to  the  natural  supervenience  of  a 
more  able  sovereign.  I should  amuse  you,  per- 
haps," added  the  licentiate,  with  a smile,  “ I think 
I should  amuse  you  if  I were  to  explain  my  notion 
of  a prince.  We  who  have  studied  in  the  closet, 
no  longer,  in  this  age,  propose  ourselves  for  active 
service.  The  paths,  we  have  perceived,  are  incom- 
patible. I would  not  have  a student  on  the  throne, 
though  I would  have  one  near  by  for  an  adviser. 
I would  set  forward  as  prince  a man  of  a good, 
medium  understanding,  lively  rather  than  deep ; a 


52 


PRINCE  OTTO 


man  of  courtly  manner,  possessed  of  the  double 
art  to  ingratiate  and  to  command;  receptive,  ac- 
commodating, seductive.  I have  been  observing 
you  since  your  first  entrance.  Well,  sir,  were  I a 
subject  of  Grunewald  I should  pray  heaven  to  set 
upon  the  seat  of  government  just  such  another  as 
yourself.” 

“ The  devil,  you  would ! ” exclaimed  the  Prince. 

The  licentiate  Roederer  laughed  most  heartily. 
“ I thought  I should  astonish  you,”  he  said. 
“ These  are  not  the  ideas  of  the  masses.” 

“ They  are  not,  I can  assure  you,”  Otto  said. 

“ Or  rather,”  distinguished  the  licentiate,  “ not 
to-day.  The  time  will  come,  however,  when  these 
ideas  shall  prevail.” 

“ You  will  permit  me,  sir,  to  doubt  it,”  said 
Otto. 

“ Modesty  is  always  admirable,”  chuckled  the 
theorist.  “ But  yet  I assure  you,  a man  like  you, 
with  such  a man  as,  say,  Doctor  Gotthold  at  your 
elbow,  would  be,  for  all  practical  issues,  my  ideal 
ruler.” 

At  this  rate  the  hours  sped  pleasantly  for  Otto. 
But  the  licentiate  unfortunately  slept  that  night  at 
Beckstein,  where  he  was,  being  dainty  in  the  saddle 
and  given  to  half  stages.  And  to  find  a convoy  to 
Mittwalden,  and  thus  mitigate  the  company  of  his 
own  thoughts,  the  Prince  had  to  make  favour 


PRINCE  OTTO 


53 


with  a certain  party  of  wood  merchants  from  vari- 
ous states  of  the  empire,  who  had  been  drinking 
together  somewhat  noisily  at  the  far  end  of  the 
apartment. 

The  night  had  already  fallen  when  they  took 
the  saddle.  The  merchants  were  very  loud  and 
mirthful;  each  had  a face  like  a nor’ west  moon; 
and  they  played  pranks  with  each  other’s  horses, 
and  mingled  songs  and  choruses,  and  alternately 
remembered  and  forgot  the  companion  of  their 
ride.  Otto  thus  combined  society  and  solitude, 
hearkening  now  to  their  chattering  and  empty 
talk,  now  to  the  voices  of  the  encircling  forest. 
The  starlit  dark,  the  faint  wood  airs,  the  clank  of 
the  horse-shoes  making  broken  music,  accorded  to- 
gether and  attuned  his  mind.  And  he  was  still 
in  a most  equal  temper  when  the  party  reached  the 
top  of  that  long  hill  that  overlooks  Mittwalden. 

Down  in  the  bottom  of  a bowl  of  forest,  the 
lights  of  the  little  formal  town  glittered  in  a pat- 
tern, street  crossing  street;  away  by  itself  on  the 
right,  the  palace  was  glowing  like  a factory. 

Although  he  knew  not  Otto,  one  of  the  wood 
merchants  was  a native  of  the  state.  “ There,” 
said  he,  pointing  to  the  palace  with  his  whip, 
“ there  is  Jezebel’s  inn.” 

“ What,  do  you  call  it  that?”  cried  another, 
laughing. 


54 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Ay,  that ’s  what  they  call  it,”  returned  the 
Grunewalder;  and  he  broke  into  a song,  which 
the  rest,  as  people  well  acquainted  with  the  words 
and  air,  instantly  took  up  in  chorus.  Her  Serene 
Highness  Amalia  Seraphina,  Princess  of  Griine- 
wald,  was  the  heroine,  Gondremark  the  hero  of 
this  ballad.  Shame  hissed  in  Otto’s  ears.  He 
reined  up  short  and  sat  stunned  in  the  saddle; 
and  the  singers  continued  to  descend  the  hill  with- 
out him. 

The  song  went  to  a rough,  swashing,  popular 
air;  and  long  after  the  words  became  inaudible 
the  swing  of  the  music,  rising  and  falling,  echoed 
insult  in  the  Prince’s  brain.  He  fled  the  sounds. 
Hard  by  him  on  his  right  a road  struck  towards 
the  palace,  and  he  followed  it  through  the  thick 
shadows  and  branching  alleys  of  the  park.  It  was 
a busy  place  on  a fine  summer’s  afternoon,  when 
the  Court  and  burghers  met  and  saluted;  but  at 
that  hour  of  the  night  in  the  early  spring  it  was 
deserted  to  the  roosting  birds.  Hares  rustled 
among  the  covert;  here  and  there  a statue  stood 
glimmering,  with  its  eternal  gesture ; here  and 
there  the  echo  of  an  imitation  temple  clattered 
ghostly  to  the  trampling  of  the  mare.  Ten  minutes 
brought  him  to  the  upper  end  of  his  own  home 
garden,  where  the  small  stables  opened,  over  a 
bridge,  upon  the  park.  The  yard  clock  was  strik- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


55 


in g the  hour  of  ten ; so  was  the  big  bell  in  the 
palace  bell-tower;  and,  farther  off,  the  belfries  of 
the  town.  About  the  stable  all  else  was  silent  but 
the  stamping  of  stalled  horses  and  the  rattle  of 
halters.  Otto  dismounted;  and  as  he  did  so  a 
memory  came  back  to  him : a whisper  of  dis- 
honest grooms  and  stolen  corn,  once  heard,  long 
forgotten,  and  now  recurring  in  the  nick  of  op- 
portunity. He  crossed  the  bridge,  and,  going 
up  to  a window,  knocked  six  or  seven  heavy 
blows  in  a particular  cadence,  and,  as  he  did 
so,  smiled.  Presently  a wicket  was  opened  in 
the  gate,  and  a man’s  head  appeared  in  the  dim 
starlight. 

“ Nothing  to-night,”  said  a voice. 

“ Bring  a lantern,”  said  the  Prince. 

“ Dear  heart  a’  mercy!”  cried  the  groom. 
“Who’s  that?” 

“ It  is  I,  the  Prince,”  replied  Otto.  “ Bring  a 
lantern,  take  in  the  mare,  and  let  me  through  into 
the  garden.” 

The  man  remained  silent  for  awhile,  his  head 
still  projecting  through  the  wicket. 

“ His  Highness!”  he  said  at  last.  “ And  why 
did  your  Highness  knock  so  strange?” 

“ It  is  a superstition  in  Mittwalden,”  answered 
Otto,  “ that  it  cheapens  corn.” 

With  a sound  like  a sob  the  groom  fled.  He 


PRINCE  OTTO 


56 

was  very  white  when  he  returned,  even  by  the 
light  of  the  lantern;  and  his  hand  trembled  as  he 
undid  the  fastenings  and  took  the  mare. 

“ Your  Highness,”  he  began  at  last,  “ for  God’s 
sake  . . And  there  he  paused,  oppressed  with 
guilt. 

“For  God’s  sake,  what?”  asked  Otto,  cheer- 
fully. “ For  God’s  sake,  let  us  have  cheaper 
corn,  say  I.  Good-night ! ” And  he  strode  off 
into  the  garden,  leaving  the  groom  petrified  once 
more. 

The  garden  descended  by  a succession  of  stone 
terraces  to  the  level  of  the  fish-pond.  On  the  far 
side  the  ground  rose  again,  and  was  crowned  by 
the  confused  roofs  and  gables  of  the  palace.  The 
modern  pillared  front,  the  ball-room,  the  great 
library,  the  princely  apartments,  the  busy  and  illu- 
minated quarters  of  that  great  house,  all  faced 
the  town.  The  garden  side  was  much  older;  and 
here  it  was  almost  dark;  only  a few  windows 
quietly  lighted  at  various  elevations.  The  great 
square  tower  rose,  thinning  by  stages  like  a 
telescope;  and  on  the  top  of  all  the  flag  hung 
motionless. 

The  garden,  as  it  now  lay  in  the  dusk  and  glim- 
mer of  the  starshine,  breathed  of  April  violets. 
Under  night’s  cavern  arch  the  shrubs  obscurely 
bustled.  Through  the  plotted  terraces  and  down 


PRINCE  OTTO 


57 


the  marble  stairs  the  Prince  rapidly  descended, 
fleeing  before  uncomfortable  thoughts.  But,  alas ! 
from  these  there  is  no  city  of  refuge.  And  now, 
when  he  was  about  midway  of  the  descent,  distant 
strains  of  music  began  to  fall  upon  his  ear  from 
the  ball-room,  where  the  Court  was  dancing.  They 
reached  him  faint  and  broken,  but  they  touched 
the  keys  of  memory ; and  through  and  above  them, 
Otto  heard  the  ranting  melody  of  the  wood  mer- 
chants' song.  Mere  blackness  seized  upon  his 

mind.  Here  he  was,  coming  home ; the  wife 

was  dancing,  the  husband  had  been  playing  a 
trick  upon  a lackey;  and  meanwhile,  all  about 
them,  they  were  a by-word  to  their  subjects. 
Such  a prince,  such  a husband,  such  a man,  as 
this  Otto  had  become!  And  he  sped  the  faster 
onward. 

Some  way  below  he  came  unexpectedly  upon  a 
sentry;  yet  a little  further,  and  he  was  challenged 
by  a second;  and  as  he  crossed  the  bridge  over 
the  fish-pond,  an  officer  making  the  rounds  stopped 
him  once  more.  The  parade  of  watch  was  more 
than  usual;  but  curiosity  was  dead  in  Otto's  mind, 
and  he  only  chafed  at  the  interruption.  The  porter 
of  the  back  postern  admitted  him,  and  started  to 
behold  him  so  disordered.  Thence,  hasting  by 
private  stairs  and  passages,  he  came  at  length  un- 
seen to  his  own  chamber,  tore  off  his  clothes,  and 


58  PRINCE  OTTO 

threw  himself  upon  his  bed  in  the  dark.  The 
music  of  the  ball-room  still  continued  to  a very 
lively  measure;  and  still,  behind  that,  he  heard  in 
spirit  the  chorus  of  the  merchants  clanking  down 
the  hill. 


BOOK  II 


OF  LOVE  AND  POLITICS 


CHAPTER  I 


WHAT  HAPPENED  IN  THE  LIBRARY 

a quarter  before  six  on  the  following 


morning  Doctor  Gotthold  was  already  at 


cup  of  black  coffee  at  his  elbow,  and  an  eye  occa- 
sionally wandering  to  the  busts  and  the  long  array 
of  many-coloured  books,  was  quietly  reviewing  the 
labours  of  the  day  before.  He  was  a man  of  about 
forty,  flaxen-haired,  with  refined  features  a little 
worn,  and  bright  eyes  somewhat  faded.  Early  to 
bed  and  early  to  rise,  his  life  was  devoted  to  two 
things : erudition  and  Rhine  wine.  An  ancient 
friendship  existed  latent  between  him  and  Otto ; 
they  rarely  met,  but  when  they  did  it  was  to  take 
up  at  once  the  thread  of  their  suspended  intimacy. 
Gotthold,  the  virgin  priest  of  knowledge,  had  en- 
vied his  cousin,  for  half  a day,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried ; he  had  never  envied  him  his  throne. 

Reading  was  not  a popular  diversion  at  the  Court 
of  Griinewald ; and  that  great,  pleasant,  sunshiny 
gallery  of  books  and  statues  was,  in  practice,  Gott- 
hold’s private  cabinet.  On  this  particular  Wednes- 


his  desk  in  the  library;  and  with  a small 


6 2 


PRINCE  OTTO 


day  morning,  however,  he  had  not  been  long  about 
his  manuscript  when  a door  opened  and  the  Prince 
stepped  into  the  apartment.  The  Doctor  watched 
him  as  he  drew  near,  receiving,  from  each  of  the 
embayed  windows  in  succession,  a flush  of  morn- 
ing sun ; and  Otto  looked  so  gay,  and  walked  so 
airily,  he  was  so  well  dressed  and  brushed  and 
frizzled,  so  point-de-vice,  and  of  such  a sovereign 
elegance,  that  the  heart  of  his  cousin  the  recluse 
was  rather  moved  against  him. 

“ Good-morning,  Gotthold,”  said  Otto,  dropping 
in  a chair. 

“ Good-morning,  Otto,”  returned  the  librarian. 
“ You  are  an  early  bird.  Is  this  an  accident,  or 
do  you  begin  reforming  ? ” 

“ It  is  about  time,  I fancy,”  answered  the  Prince. 
“ I cannot  imagine,”  said  the  Doctor.  “ I am 
too  sceptical  to  be  an  ethical  adviser;  and  as  for 
good  resolutions,  I believed  in  them  when  I was 
young.  They  are  the  colours  of  hope’s  rainbow.” 
“ If  you  come  to  think  of  it,”  said  Otto,  “ I am 
not  a popular  sovereign.”  And  with  a look  he 
changed  his  statement  to  a question. 

“Popular?  Well,  there  I would  distinguish,” 
answered  Gotthold,  leaning  back  and  joining  the 
tips  of  his  fingers.  “ There  are  various  kinds  of 
popularity : the  bookish,  which  is  perfectly  imper- 
sonal, as  unreal  as  the  nightmare;  the  politician’s. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


63 

a mixed  variety;  and  yours,  which  is  the  most 
personal  of  all.  Women  take  to  you;  footmen 
adore  you;  it  is  as  natural  to  like  you  as  to  pat  a 
dog;  and  were  you  a saw-miller  you  would  be 
the  most  popular  citizen  in  Griinewald.  As  a prince 
— well,  you  are  in  the  wrong  trade.  It  is  perhaps 
philosophical  to  recognise  it  as  you  do.” 

“ Perhaps  philosophical  ? ” repeated  Otto. 

“ Yes,  perhaps.  I would  not  be  dogmatic,” 
answered  Gotthold. 

“ Perhaps  philosophical,  and  certainly  not  vir- 
tuous,” Otto  resumed. 

“ Not  of  a Roman  virtue,”  chuckled  the  recluse. 

Otto  drew  his  chair  nearer  to  the  table,  leaned 
upon  it  with  his  elbow,  and  looked  his  cousin 
squarely  in  the  face.  “ In  short,”  he  asked,  “ not 
manly  ? ” 

“Well,”  Gotthold  hesitated,  “not  manly,  if  you 
will.”  And  then  with  a laugh,  “ I did  not  know 
that  you  gave  yourself  out  to  be  manly,”  he  added. 
“ It  was  one  of  the  points  that  I inclined  to  like 
about  you;  inclined,  I believe,  to  admire.  The 
names  of  virtues  exercise  a charm  on  most  of  us; 
we  must  lay  claim  to  all  of  them,  however  incom- 
patible; we  must  all  be  both  daring  and  prudent; 
we  must  all  vaunt  our  pride  and  go  to  the  stake 
for  our  humility.  Not  so  you.  Without  compro- 
mise you  were  yourself : a pretty  sight.  I have 


64  PRINCE  OTTO 

always  said  it : none  so  void  of  all  pretence  as 
Otto.” 

“ Pretence  and  effort  both ! ” cried  Otto.  “ A 
dead  dog  in  a canal  is  more  alive.  And  the  ques- 
tion, Gotthold,  the  question  that  I have  to  face  is 
this:  Can  I not,  with  effort  and  self-denial,  can  I 
not  become  a tolerable  sovereign  ? ” 

“ Never,”  replied  Gotthold.  “ Dismiss  the  no- 
tion. And  besides,  dear  child,  you  would  not 

try.” 

“ Nay,  Gotthold,  I am  not  to  be  put  by,”  said 
Otto.  “ If  I am  constitutionally  unfit  to  be  a 
sovereign,  what  am  I doing  with  this  money,  with 
this  palace,  with  these  guards  ? And  I — a thief  — 
am  to  execute  the  law  on  others?  ” 

“ I admit  the  difficulty,”  said  Gotthold. 

“ Well,  can  I not  try?  ” continued  Otto.  “ Am 
I not  bound  to  try?  And  with  the  advice  and 
help  of  such  a man  as  you ” 

“ Me ! ” cried  the  librarian.  “ Now,  God  for- 
bid ! ” 

Otto,  though  he  was  in  no  very  smiling  humour, 
could  not  forbear  to  smile.  “Yet  I was  told  last 
night,”  he  laughed,  “ that  with  a man  like  me 
to  impersonate,  and  a man  like  you  to  touch 
the  springs,  a very  possible  government  could  be 
composed.” 

“ Now  I wonder  in  what  diseased  imagination,” 


PRINCE  OTTO  65 

Gotthold  said,  “ that  preposterous  monster  saw  the 
light  of  day?  " 

“ It  was  one  of  your  own  trade  — a writer,  one 
Roederer,"  said  Otto. 

“Roederer!  an  ignorant  puppy !"  cried  the 
librarian. 

“ You  are  ungrateful/'  said  Otto.  “ He  is  one 
of  your  professed  admirers." 

“ Is  he?"  cried  Gotthold,  obviously  impressed. 
“ Come,  that  is  a good  account  of  the  young  man. 
I must  read  his  stuff  again.  It  is  the  rather  to  his 
credit,  as  our  views  are  opposite.  The  east  and 
west  are  not  more  opposite.  Can  I have  con- 
verted him?  Rut  no;  the  incident  belongs  to 
Fairyland." 

“ You  are  not  then,"  asked  the  Prince,  “ an 
authoritarian?  " 

“I?  God  bless  me,  no!"  said  Gotthold.  “ I 
am  a red,  dear  child." 

“ That  brings  me  then  to  my  next  point,  and  by 
a natural  transition.  If  I am  so  clearly  unfitted 
for  my  post,"  the  Prince  asked;  “if  my  friends 
admit  it,  if  my  subjects  clamour  for  my  downfall, 
if  revolution  is  preparing  at  this  hour,  must  I not 
go  forth  to  meet  the  inevitable?  should  I not  save 
these  horrors  and  be  done  with  these  absurdities? 
in  a word,  should  I not  abdicate?  O,  believe  me, 
I feel  the  ridicule,  the  vast  abuse  of  language,"  he 

VOL.  V.  — 5 


66 


PRINCE  OTTO 


added,  wincing,  “ but  even  a principulus  like  me 
cannot  resign;  he  must  make  a great  gesture,  and 
come  buskined  forth,  and  abdicate.” 

“ Ay,”  said  Gotthold,  “ or  else  stay  where  he  is. 
What  gnat  has  bitten  you  to-day?  Do  you  not 
know  that  you  are  touching,  with  lay  hands,  the 
very  holiest  inwards  of  philosophy,  where  madness 
dwells?  Ay,  Otto,  madness;  for  in  the  serene 
temples  of  the  wise,  the  inmost  shrine,  which  we 
carefully  keep  locked,  is  full  of  spiders'  webs.  All 
men,  all,  are  fundamentally  useless;  nature  tol- 
erates, she  does  not  need,  she  does  not  use  them: 
sterile  flowers  ! All  — down  to  the  fellow  swink- 
ing  in  a byre,  whom  fools  point  out  for  the  excep- 
tion — all  are  useless ; all  weave  ropes  of  sand ; 
or  like  a child  that  has  breathed  on  a window, 
write  and  obliterate,  write  and  obliterate,  idle 
words!  Talk  of  it  no  more.  That  way,  I tell 
you,  madness  lies.”  The  speaker  rose  from  his 
chair  and  then  sat  down  again.  He  laughed  a 
little  laugh,  and  then,  changing  his  tone,  resumed: 
“ Yes,  dear  child,  we  are  not  here  to  do  battle  with 
giants;  we  are  here  to  be  happy  like  the  flowers, 
if  we  can  be.  It  is  because  you  could,  that  I have 
always  secretly  admired  you.  Cling  to  that  trade ; 
believe  me,  it  is  the  right  one.  Be  happy,  be  idle, 
be  airy.  To  the  devil  with  all  casuistry ! and  leave 
the  state  to  Gondremark,  as  heretofore.  He  does 


PRINCE  OTTO  67 

it  well  enough,  they  say;  and  his  vanity  enjoys 
the  situation/’ 

“ Gotthold,”  cried  Otto,  “ what  is  this  to  me? 
Useless  is  not  the  question ; I cannot  rest  at  useless- 
ness ; I must  be  useful  or  I must  be  noxious  — one 
or  other.  I grant  you  the  whole  thing,  prince  and 
principality  alike,  is  pure  absurdity,  a stroke  of 
satire;  and  that  a banker  or  the  man  who  keeps 
an  inn  has  graver  duties.  But  now,  when  I have 
washed  my  hands  of  it  three  years,  and  left  all 

— labour,  responsibility,  and  honour  and  enjoy- 
ment too,  if  there  be  any  — to  Gondremark  and 

to  — Seraphina ” He  hesitated  at  the  name, 

and  Gotthold  glanced  aside.  “ Well,”  the  Prince 
continued,  “ what  has  come  of  it?  Taxes,  army, 
cannon  — why,  it ’s  like  a box  of  lead  soldiers ! 
And  the  people  sick  at  the  folly  of  it,  and  fired 
with  the  injustice!  And  war,  too  — I hear  of  war 

— war  in  this  teapot ! What  a complication  of 
absurdity  and  disgrace ! And  when  the  inevitable 
end  arrives  — the  revolution  — who  will  be  to 
blame  in  the  sight  of  God,  who  will  be  gibbeted  in 
public  opinion?  I!  Prince  Puppet!” 

“ I thought  you  had  despised  public  opinion,” 
said  Gotthold. 

“ I did,”  said  Otto,  sombrely,  “ but  now  I do 
not.  I am  growing  old.  And  then,  Gotthold, 
there  is  Seraphina.  She  is  loathed  in  this  country 


68 


PRINCE  OTTO 


that  I brought  her,  .to  and  suffered  her  to  spoil. 
Yes,  I gave  it  her  as  a plaything,  and  she  has 
broken  it : a fine  Prince,  an  admirable  Princess ! 
Even  her  life  — I ask  you,  Gotthold,  is  her  life 
safe?” 

“ It  is  safe  enough  to-day,”  replied  the  librarian ; 
“ but  since  you  ask  me  seriously,  I would  not 
answer  for  to-morrow.  She  is  ill-advised.” 

“ And  by  whom  ? By  this  Gondremark,  to  whom 
you  counsel  me  to  leave  my  country,”  cried  the 
Prince.  “ Rare  advice ! The  course  that  I have 
been  following  all  these  years,  to  come  at  last  to 
this.  O,  ill-advised!  if  that  were  all!  See  now, 
there  is  no  sense  in  beating  about  the  bush  between 
two  men:  you  know  what  scandal  says  of  her?” 

Gotthold,  with  pursed  lips,  silently  nodded. 

“ Well,  come,  you  are  not  very  cheering  as  to 
my  conduct  as  the  Prince;  have  I even  done  my 
duty  as  a husband  ? ” Otto  asked. 

“ Nay,  nay,”  said  Gotthold,  earnestly  and  ea- 
gerly, “ this  is  another  chapter.  I am  an  old  celi- 
bate, an  old  monk.  I cannot  advise  you  in  your 
marriage.” 

“ Nor  do  I require  advice,”  said  Otto,  rising. 
“ All  of  this  must  cease.”  And  he  began  to  walk 
to  and  fro  with  his  hands  behind  his  back. 

“ Well,  Otto,  may  God  guide  you!”  said  Gott- 
hold, after  a considerable  silence.  “ I cannot.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  69 

“ From  what  does  all  this  spring?”  said  the 
Prince,  stopping  in  his  walk.  “ What  am  I to  call 
it?  Diffidence?  The  fear  of  ridicule?  Inverted 
vanity?  What  matter  names,  if  it  has  brought 

me  to  this?  I could  never  bear  to  be  bustling 

about  nothing;  I was  ashamed  of  this  toy  kingdom 
from  the  first;  I could  not  tolerate  that  people 
should  fancy  I believed  in  a thing  so  patently 
absurd!  I would  do  nothing  that  cannot  be  done 
smiling.  I have  a sense  of  humour  forsooth ! I 
must  know  better  than  my  maker.  And  it  was  the 
same  thing  in  my  marriage,”  he  added  more 
hoarsely.  “ I did  not  believe  this  girl  could  care 
for  me;  I must  not  intrude;  I must  preserve  the 

foppery  of  my  indifference.  What  an  impotent 

picture ! ” 

“ Ay,  we  have  the  same  blood,”  moralised  Gott- 
hold. “ You  are  drawing,  with  fine  strokes,  the 
character  of  the  born  sceptic.” 

“ Sceptic  ? — coward ! ” cried  Otto.  “ Coward 
is  the  word.  A springless,  putty-hearted,  cower- 
ing coward ! ” 

And  as  the  Prince  rapped  out  the  words  in 
tones  of  unusual  vigour,  a little,  stout,  old  gentle- 
man, opening  a door  behind  Gotthold,  received 
them  fairly  in  the  face.  With  his  parrot’s  beak 
for  a nose,  his  pursed  mouth,  his  little  goggling 
eyes,  he  was  the  picture  of  formality ; and  in  ordi- 


70 


PRINCE  OTTO 


nary  circumstances,  strutting  behind  the  drum  of 
his  corporation,  he  impressed  the  beholder  with 
a certain  air  of  frozen  dignity  and  wisdom.  But 
at  the  smallest  contrariety,  his  trembling  hands 
and  disconnected  gestures  betrayed  the  weakness 
at  the  root.  And  now,  when  he  was  thus  sur- 
prisingly received  in  that  library  of  Mittwalden 
Palace,  which  was  the  customary  haunt  of  silence, 
his  hands  went  up  into  the  air  as  if  he  had  been 
shot,  and  he  cried  aloud  with  the  scream  of  an 
old  woman. 

“ O ! ” he  gasped,  recovering,  “ Your  Highness ! 
I beg  ten  thousand  pardons.  But  your  Highness 
at  such  an  hour  in  the  library!  — a circumstance 
so  unusual  as  your  Highness’s  presence  was  a thing 
I could  not  be  expected  to  foresee.” 

“ There  is  no  harm  done,  Herr  Cancellarius,” 
said  Otto. 

“ I came  upon  the  errand  of  a moment : some 
papers  I left  over  night  with  the  Herr  Doctor,” 
said  the  Chancellor  of  Griinewald.  “ Herr  Doctor, 
if  you  will  kindly  give  me  them,  I will  intrude  no 
longer.” 

Gotthold  unlocked  a drawer  and  handed  a bundle 
of  manuscript  to  the  old  gentleman,  who  prepared, 
with  fitting  salutations,  to  take  his  departure. 

“ Herr  Greisengesang,  since  we  have  met,”  said 
Otto,  “ let  us  talk.”- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


71 


“ I am  honoured  by  his  Highness’s  commands,” 
replied  the  Chancellor. 

“All  has  been  quiet  since  I left?”  asked  the 
Prince,  resuming  his  seat. 

“ The  usual  business,  your  Highness,”  answered 
Greisengesang ; “punctual  trifles:  huge,  indeed,  if 
neglected,  but  trifles  when  discharged.  Your  High- 
ness is  most  zealously  obeyed.” 

“Obeyed,  Herr  Cancellarius ? ” returned  the 
Prince.  “ And  when  have  I obliged  you  with  an 
order?  Replaced,  let  us  rather  say.  But  to  touch 
upon  these  trifles;  instance  me  a few.” 

“ The  routine  of  government,  from  which  your 
Highness  has  so  wisely  dissociated  his  leisure  . . .” 
began  Greisengesang. 

“ We  will  leave  my  leisure,  sir,”  said  Otto. 
“ Approach  the  facts.” 

“ The  routine  of  business  was  proceeded  with,” 
replied  the  official,  now  visibly  twittering. 

“ It  is  very  strange,  Herr  Cancellarius,  that  you 
should  so  persistently  avoid  my  questions,”  said 
the  Prince.  “ You  tempt  me  to  suppose  a purpose 
in  your  dulness.  I have  asked  you  whether  all 
was  quiet : do  me  the  pleasure  to  reply.” 

“Perfectly  — O,  perfectly  quiet,”  jerked  the 
ancient  puppet,  with  every  signal  of  untruth. 

“ I make  a note  of  these  words,”  said  the  Prince, 
gravely.  “ You  assure  me,  your  sovereign,  that 


72 


PRINCE  OTTO 


since  the  date  of  my  departure  nothing  has  occurred 
of  which  you  owe  me  an  account/' 

“ I take  your  Highness,  I take  the  Herr  Doctor 
to  witness,”  cried  Greisengesang,  “ that  I have  had 
no  such  expression.” 

“ Halt ! ” said  the  Prince ; and  then,  after  a 
pause : “ Herr  Greisengesang,  you  are  an  old  man, 
and  you  served  my  father  before  you  served  me,” 
he  added.  “ It  consists  neither  with  your  dignity 
nor  mine,  that  you  should  babble  excuses  and 
stumble  possibly  upon  untruths.  Collect  your 
thoughts ; and  then  categorically  inform  me  of  all 
you  have  been  charged  to  hide.” 

Gotthold,  stooping  very  low  over  his  desk, 
appeared  to  have  resumed  his  labours;  but  his 
shoulders  heaved  with  subterranean  merriment. 
The  Prince  waited,  drawing  his  handkerchief 
quietly  through  his  fingers. 

“ Your  Highness,  in  this  informal  manner,”  said 
the  old  gentleman  at  last,  “ and  being  unavoidably 
deprived  of  documents,  it  would  be  difficult,  it 
would  be  impossible,  to  do  justice  to  the  somewhat 
grave  occurrences  which  have  transpired.” 

“ I will  not  criticise  your  attitude,”  replied  the 
Prince.  “ I desire  that,  between  you  and  me,  all 
should  be  done  gently ; for  I have  not  forgotten, 
my  old  friend,  that  you  were  kind  to  me  from  the 
first,  and  for  a period  of  years  a faithful  servant. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


73 


I will  thus  dismiss  the  matters  on  which  you  waive 
immediate  inquiry.  But  you  have  certain  papers 
actually  in  your  hand.  Come,  Herr  Greisengesang, 
there  is  at  least  one  point  for  which  you  have 
authority.  Enlighten  me  on  that.” 

“ On  that?  ” cried  the  old  gentleman.  “ O,  that 
is  a trifle;  a matter,  your  Highness,  of  police;  a 
detail  of  a purely  administrative  order.  These  are 
simply  a selection  of  the  papers  seized  upon  the 
English  traveller.” 

“ Seized?”  echoed  Otto.  “ In  what  sense? 
Explain  yourself.” 

“ Sir  John  Crabtree,”  interposed  Gotthold,  look- 
ing up,  “ was  arrested  yesterday  evening.” 

“ Is  this  so,  Herr  Cancellarius  ? ” demanded 
Otto,  sternly. 

“ It  was  judged  right,  your  Highness,”  protested 
Greisengesang.  “ The  decree  was  in  due  form, 
invested  with  your  Highness’s  authority  by  procu- 
ration. I am  but  an  agent;  I had  no  status  to 
prevent  the  measure.” 

“ This  man,  my  guest,  has  been  arrested,”  said 
the  Prince.  “ On  what  grounds,  sir?  With  what 
colour  of  pretence  ? ” 

The  Chancellor  stammered. 

“ Your  Highness  will  perhaps  find  the  reason 
in  these  documents,”  said  Gotthold,  pointing  with 
the  tail  of  his  pen. 


74 


PRINCE  OTTO 


Otto  thanked  his  cousin  with  a look.  “ Give 
them  to  me,”  he  said,  addressing  the  Chancellor. 

But  that  gentleman  visibly  hesitated  to  obey. 
“ Baron  von  Gondremark,”  he  said,  “ has  made 
the  affair  his  own.  I am  in  this  case  a mere  mes- 
senger; and  as  such,  I am  not  clothed  with  any 
capacity  to  communicate  the  documents  I carry. 
Herr  Doctor,  I am  convinced  you  will  not  fail 
to  bear  me  out.” 

“ I have  heard  a great  deal  of  nonsense,”  said 
Gotthold,  “and  most  of  it  from  you;  but  this 
beats  all.” 

“ Come,  sir,”  said  Otto,  rising,  “ the  papers  I 
command.” 

Herr  Greisengesang  instantly  gave  way 

“ With  your  Highness’s  permission,”  he  said, 
“ and  laying  at  his  feet  my  most  submiss  apologies, 
I will  now  hasten  to  attend  his  further  orders  in 
the  Chancery.” 

“ Herr  Cancellarius,  do  you  see  this  chair  ? ” 
said  Otto.  “ There  is  where  you  shall  attend  my 
further  orders.  O,  now,  no  more ! ” he  cried,  with 
a gesture,  as  the  old  man  opened  his  lips.  “ You 
have  sufficiently  marked  your  zeal  to  your  em- 
ployer; and  I begin  to  weary  of  a moderation 
you  abuse.” 

The  Chancellor  moved  to  the  appointed  chair 
and  took  his  seat  in  silence. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


75 


“ And  now,”  said  Otto,  opening  the  roll,  “ what 
is  all  this?  it  looks  like  the  manuscript  of  a book.” 

“ It  is,”  said  Gotthold,  “ the  manuscript  of  a 
book  of  travels.” 

“ You  have  read  it,  Doctor  Hohenstockwitz  ? ” 
asked  the  Prince. 

“ Nay,  I but  saw  the  title-page,”  replied  Gott- 
hold. “ But  the  roll  was  given  to  me  open,  and 
I heard  no  word  of  any  secrecy.” 

Otto  dealt  the  Chancellor  an  angry  glance. 

“ I see,”  he  went  on.  “ The  papers  of  an  author 
seized  at  this  date  of  the  world's  history,  in  a state 
so  petty  and  so  ignorant  as  Griinewald,  here  is 
indeed  an  ignominious  folly.  Sir,”  to  the  Chan- 
cellor, “ I marvel  to  find  you  in  so  scurvy  an 
employment.  On  your  conduct  to  your  Prince  I 
will  not  dwell;  but  to  descend  to  be  a spy!  For 
what  else  can  it  be  called?  To  seize  the  papers  of 
this  gentleman,  the  private  papers  of  a stranger, 
the  toil  of  a life,  perhaps  — to  open,  and  to  read 
them.  And  what  have  we  to  do  with  books  ? 
The  Herr  Doctor  might  perhaps  be  asked  for  his 
advice;  but  we  have  no  index  expur gat orius  in 
Griinewald.  Had  we  but  that,  we  should  be  the 
most  absolute  parody  and  farce  upon  this  tawdry 
earth.” 

Yet,  even  while  Otto  spoke,  he  had  continued 
to  unfold  the  roll;  and  now,  when  it  lay  fully 


PRINCE  OTTO 


76 

open,  his  eye  rested  on  the  title-page  elaborately 
written  in  red  ink.  It  ran  thus : 

“ Memoirs 

of  a Visit  to  the  Various 
Courts  of  Europe, 
by 

Sir  John  Crabtree,  Baronet.” 

Below  was  a list  of  chapters,  each  bearing  the 
name  of  one  of  the  European  Courts;  and  among 
these  the  nineteenth  and  last  upon  the  list  was 
dedicated  to  Grimewald. 

“ Ah ! The  Court  of  Grimewald ! ” said  Otto, 
“ that  should  be  droll  reading.”  And  his  curiosity 
itched  for  it. 

“ A methodical  dog,  this  English  Baronet,”  said 
Gotthold.  “ Each  chapter  written  and  finished  on 
the  spot.  I shall  look  for  his  work  when  it  appears.” 

“ It  would  be  odd,  now,  just  to  glance  at  it,” 
said  Otto,  wavering. 

Gotthold’s  brow  darkened,  and  he  looked  out  of 
window. 

But  though  the  Prince  understood  the  reproof, 
his  weakness  prevailed.  “ I will,”  he  said,  with 
an  uneasy  laugh,  “ I will,  I think,  just  glance  at  it.” 

So  saying,  he  resumed  his  seat  and  spread  the 
traveller’s  manuscript  upon  the  table. 


CHAPTER  II 


“ON  THE  COURT  OF  GRUNEWALD,”  BEING 
A PORTION  OF  THE  TRAVELLER’S  MANU- 
SCRIPT 

IT  may  well  be  asked  {it  was  thus  the  English 
traveller  began  his  nineteenth  chapter ) why 
I should  have  chosen  Griinewald  out  of  so 
many  other  states  equally  petty,  formal,  dull,  and 
corrupt.  Accident,  indeed,  decided,  and  not  I; 
but  I have  seen  no  reason  to  regret  my  visit.  The 
spectacle  of  this  small  society  macerating  in  its 
own  abuses  was  not  perhaps  instructive,  but  I have 
found  it  exceedingly  diverting. 

The  reigning  Prince,  Otto  Johann  Friedrich,  a 
young  man  of  imperfect  education,  questionable 
valour,  and  no  scintilla  of  capacity,  has  fallen  into 
entire  public  contempt.  It  was  with  difficulty  that 
I obtained  an  interview,  for  he  is  frequently  absent 
from  a Court  where  his  presence  is  unheeded,  and 
where  his  only  role  is  to  be  a cloak  for  the  amours 
of  his  wife.  At  last,  however,  on  the  third  occa- 
sion when  I visited  the  palace,  I found  this  sov- 
ereign in  the  exercise  of  his  inglorious  function, 


78  PRINCE  OTTO 

with  the  wife  on  one  hand  and  the  lover  on  the 
other.  He  is  not  ill-looking;  he  has  hair  of  a 
ruddy  gold,  which  naturally  curls,  and  his  eyes 
are  dark,  a combination  which  I always  regard  as 
the  mark  of  some  congenital  deficiency,  physical 
or  moral;  his  features  are  irregular  but  pleasing; 
the  nose  perhaps  a little  short,  and  the  mouth  a 
little  womanish.  His  address  is  excellent,  and  he 
can  express  himself  with  point.  But  to  pierce 
below  these  externals  is  to  come  on  a vacuity  of 
.any  sterling  quality,  a deliquescence  of  the  moral 
nature,  a frivolity  and  inconsequence  of  purpose 
that  mark  the  nearly  perfect  fruit  of  a decadent 
age.  He  has  a worthless  smattering  of  many  sub- 
jects, but  a grasp  of  none.  “ I soon  weary  of  a 
pursuit,”  he  said  to  me,  laughing;  it  would  almost 
appear  as  if  he  took  a pride  in  his  incapacity  and 
lack  of  moral  courage.  The  results  of  his  dilet- 
tanteism  are  to  be  seen  in  every  field;  he  is  a bad 
fencer,  a second-rate  horseman,  dancer,  shot;  he 
sings  — I have  heard  him  — and  he  sings  like  a 
child ; he  writes  intolerable  verses  in  more  than 
doubtful  French ; he  acts  like  the  common  amateur; 
and  in  short  there  is  no  end  to  the  number  of  the 
things  that  he  does,  and  does  badly.  His  one 
manly  taste  is  for  the  chase.  In  sum,  he  is  but 
a plexus  of  weaknesses ; the  singing  chambermaid 
of  the  stage,  tricked  out  in  man’s  apparel  and 


PRINCE  OTTO 


79 


mounted  on  a circus  horse.  I have  seen  this  poor 
phantom  of  a prince  riding  out  alone  or  with  a few 
huntsmen,  disregarded  by  all,  and  I have  been 
even  grieved  for  the  bearer  of  so  futile  and  melan- 
choly an  existence.  The  last  Merovingians  may 
have  looked  not  otherwise. 

The  Princess  Amalia  Seraphina,  a daughter  of 
the  Grand  Ducal  house  of  Toggenburg-Tann- 
haiiser,  would  be  equally  inconsiderable  if  she  were 
not  a cutting  instrument  in  the  hands  of  an  ambi- 
tious man.  She  is  much  younger  than  the  Prince, 
a girl  of  two-and-twenty,  sick  with  vanity,  super- 
ficially clever,  and  fundamentally  a fool.  She  has 
a red-brown  rolling  eye,  too  large  for  her  face, 
and  with  sparks  of  both  levity  and  ferocity;  her 
forehead  is  high  and  narrow,  her  figure  thin 
and  a little  stooping.  Her  manners,  her  con- 
versation, which  she  interlards  with  French,  her 
very  tastes  and  ambitions,  are  alike  assumed ; and 
the  assumption  is  ungracefully  apparent : Hoy- 
den playing  Cleopatra.  I should  judge  her  to 
be  incapable  of  truth.  In  private  life  a girl  of 
this  description  embroils  the  peace  of  families, 
walks  attended  by  a troop  of  scowling  swains, 
and  passes,  once  at  least,  through  the  divorce 
court;  it  is  a common  and,  except  to  the  cynic, 
an  uninteresting  type.  On  the  throne,  however, 
and  in  the  hands  of  a man  like  Gondremark, 


80  PRINCE  OTTO 

she  may  become  the  authoress  of  serious  public 
evils. 

Gondremark,  the  true  ruler  of  this  unfortunate 
country,  is  a more  complex  study.  His  position 
in  Griinewald,  to  which  he  is  a foreigner,  is  emi- 
nently false;  and  that  he  should  maintain  it  as 
he  does,  a very  miracle  of  impudence  and  dexterity. 
His  speech,  his  face,  his  policy,  are  all  double: 
heads  and  tails.  Which  of  the  two  extremes  may 
be  his  actual  design  he  were  a bold  man  who  should 
offer  to  decide.  Yet  I will  hazard  the  guess  that 
he  follows  both  experimentally,  and  awaits,  at  the 
hand  of  destiny,  one  of  those  directing  hints  of 
which  she  is  so  lavish  to  the  wise. 

On  the  one  hand,  as  Maire  de  Palais  to  the 
incompetent  Otto,  and  using  the  love-sick  Princess 
for  a tool  and  mouthpiece,  he  pursues  a policy  of 
arbitrary  power  and  territorial  aggrandisement. 
He  has  called  out  the  whole  capable  male  popula- 
tion of  the  state  to  military  service ; he  has  bought 
cannon;  he  has  tempted  away  promising  officers 
from  foreign  armies;  and  he  now  begins,  in  his 
international  relations,  to  assume  the  swaggering 
port  and  the  vague  threatful  language  of  a bully. 
The  idea  of  extending  Griinewald  may  appear 
absurd,  but  the  little  state  is  advantageously  placed, 
its  neighbours  are  all  defenceless;  and  if  at  any 
moment  the  jealousies  of  the  greater  courts  should 


PRINCE  OTTO 


8 1 


neutralise  each  other,  an  active  policy  might  double 
the  principality  both  in  population  and  extent. 
Certainly  at  least  the  scheme  is  entertained  in  the 
Court  of  Mittwalden;  nor  do  I myself  regard  it  as 
entirely  desperate.  The  margravate  of  Branden- 
burgh  has  grown  from  as  small  beginnings  to  a 
formidable  power;  and  though  it  is  late  in  the 
day  to  try  adventurous  policies,  and  the  age  of 
war  seems  ended,  fortune,  we  must  not  forget, 
still  blindly  turns  her  wheel  for  men  and  nations. 
Concurrently  with,  and  tributary  to,  these  warlike 
preparations,  crushing  taxes  have  been  levied, 
journals  have  been  suppressed,  and  the  country, 
which  three  years  ago  was  prosperous  and  happy, 
now  stagnates  in  a forced  inaction,  gold  has  be- 
come a curiosity,  and  the  mills  stand  idle  on  the 
mountain  streams. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  his  second  capacity  of 
popular  tribune,  Gondremark  is  the  incarnation  of 
the  free  lodges,  and  sits  at  the  centre  of  an  organ- 
ised conspiracy  against  the  state.  To  any  such 
movement  my  sympathies  were  early  acquired,  and 
I would  not  willingly  let  fall  a word  that  might 
embarrass  or  retard  the  revolution.  But  to  show 
that  I speak  of  knowledge,  and  not  as  the  reporter 
of  mere  gossip,  I may  mention  that  I have  myself 
been  present  at  a meeting  where  the  details  of  a 
republican  Constitution  were  minutely  debated  and 

VOL.  v.  — 6 


82  PRINCE  OTTO 

arranged;  and  I may  add  that  Gondremark  was 
throughout  referred  to  by  the  speakers  as  their 
captain  in  action  and  the  arbiter  of  their  disputes. 
He  has  taught  his  dupes  (for  so  I must  regard 
them)  that  his  power  of  resistance  to  the  Princess 
is  limited,  and  at  each  fresh  stretch  of  authority 
persuades  them,  with  specious  reasons,  to  postpone 
the  hour  of  insurrection.  Thus  (to  give  some 
instances  of  his  astute  diplomacy)  he  salved  over 
the  decree  enforcing  military  service,  under  the 
plea  that  to  be  well  drilled  and  exercised  in  arms 
was  even  a necessary  preparation  for  revolt.  And 
the  other  day,  when  it  began  to  be  rumoured 
abroad  that  a war  was  being  forced  on  a reluctant 
neighbour,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Gerolstein,  and  I 
made  sure  it  would  be  the  signal  for  an  instant 
rising,  I was  struck  dumb  with  wonder  to  find  that 
even  this  had  been  prepared  and  was  to  be  accepted. 
I went  from  one  to  another  in  the  Liberal  camp, 
and  all  were  in  the  same  story,  all  had  been  drilled 
and  schooled  and  fitted  out  with  vacuous  argument. 
“ The  lads  had  better  see  some  real  fighting,”  they 
said ; “ and  besides,  it  will  be  as  well  to  capture 
Gerolstein : we  can  then  extend  to  our  neighbours 
the  blessing  of  liberty  on  the  same  day  that  we 
snatch  it  for  ourselves;  and  the  republic  will  be 
all  the  stronger  to  resist,  if  the  kings  of  Europe 
should  band  themselves  together  to  reduce  it.”  I 


PRINCE  OTTO  83 

know  not  which  of  the  two  I should  admire  the 
more : the  simplicity  of  the  multitude  or  the  audac- 
ity of  the  adventurer.  But  such  are  the  subtleties, 
such  the  quibbling  reasons,  with  which  he  blinds 
and  leads  this  people.  How  long  a course  so  tor- 
tuous can  be  pursued  with  safety  I am  incapable 
of  guessing ; not  long,  one  would  suppose ; and 
yet  this  singular  man  has  been  treading  the  mazes 
for  five  years,  and  his  favour  at  Court  and  his 
popularity  among  the  lodges  still  endure  unbroken. 

I have  the  privilege  of  slightly  knowing  him. 
Heavily  and  somewhat  clumsily  built,  of  a vast, 
disjointed,  rambling  frame,  he  can  still  pull  him- 
self together,  and  figure,  not  without  admiration, 
in  the  saloon  or  the  ball-room.  His  hue  and  tem- 
perament are  plentifully  bilious ; he  has  a saturnine 
eye ; his  cheek  is  of  a dark  blue  where  he  has  been 
shaven.  Essentially  he  is  to  be  numbered  among 
the  man-haters,  a convinced  contemner  of  his  fel- 
lows. Yet  he  is  himself  of  a commonplace  ambition 
and  greedy  of  applause.  In  talk,  he  is  remarkable 
for  a thirst  of  information,  loving  rather  to  hear 
than  to  communicate ; for  sound  and  studious 
views;  and,  judging  by  the  extreme  short-sighted- 
ness of  common  politicians,  for  a remarkable  pre- 
vision of  events.  All  this,  however,  without  grace, 
pleasantry,  or  charm,  heavily  set  forth,  with  a 
dull  countenance.  In  our  numerous  conversations, 


84 


PRINCE  OTTO 


although  he  has  always  heard  me  with  deference, 
I have  been  conscious  throughout  of  a sort  of  pon- 
derous finessing  hard  to  tolerate.  He  produces 
none  of  the  effect  of  a gentleman  ; devoid  not  merely 
of  pleasantry,  but  of  all  attention  or  communicative 
warmth  of  bearing.  No  gentleman,  besides,  would 
so  parade  his  amours  with  the  Princess;  still  less 
repay  the  Prince  for  his  long-suffering  with  a 
studied  insolence  of  demeanour  and  the  fabrica- 
tion of  insulting  nicknames,  such  as  Prince  Feather- 
head,  which  run  from  ear  to  ear  and  create  a laugh 
throughout  the  country.  Gondremark  has  thus 
some  of  the  clumsier  characters  of  the  self-made 
man,  combined  with  an  inordinate,  almost  a be- 
sotted, pride  of  intellect  and  birth.  Heavy,  bilious, 
selfish,  inornate,  he  sits  upon  this  Court  and  country 
like  an  incubus. 

But  it  is  probable  that  he  preserves  softer  gifts 
for  necessary  purposes.  Indeed,  it  is  certain,  al- 
though he  vouchsafed  none  of  it  to  me,  that  this 
cold  and  stolid  politician  possesses  to  a great  de- 
gree the  art  of  ingratiation,  and  can  be  all  things 
to  all  men.  Hence  there  has  probably  sprung  up 
the  idle  legend  that  in  private  life  he  is  a gross 
romping  voluptuary.  Nothing,  at  least,  can  well 
be  more  surprising  than  the  terms  of  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Princess.  Older  than  her  husband, 
certainly  uglier,  and,  according  to  the  feeble  ideas 


PRINCE  OTTO  85 

common  among  women,  in  every  particular  less 
pleasing,  he  has  not  only  seized  the  complete  com- 
mand of  all  her  thought  and  action,  but  has  imposed 
on  her  in  public  a humiliating  part.  I do  not  here 
refer  to  the  complete  sacrifice  of  every  rag  of  her 
reputation;  for  to  many  women  these  extremities 
are  in  themselves  attractive.  But  there  is  about 
the  Court  a certain  lady  of  a dishevelled  reputation, 
a Countess  von  Rosen,  wife  or  widow  of  a cloudy 
count,  no  longer  in  her  second  youth  and  already 
bereft  of  some  of  her  attractions,  who  unequivo- 
cally occupies  the  station  of  the  Baron’s  mistress. 
I had  thought,  at  first,  that  she  was  but  a hired 
accomplice,  a mere  blind  or  buffer  for  the  more  im- 
portant sinner.  A few  hours’  acquaintance  with 
Madame  von  Rosen  for  ever  dispelled  the  illusion. 
She  is  one  rather  to  make  than  to  prevent  a scandal, 
and  she  values  none  of  those  bribes  ■ — money, 
honours,  or  employment  — with  which  the  situ- 
ation might  be  gilded.  Indeed,  as  a person  frankly 
bad,  she  pleased  me,  in  the  Court  of  Griinewald, 
like  a piece  of  nature. 

The  power  of  this  man  over  the  Princess  is, 
therefore,  without  bounds.  She  has  sacrificed  to 
the  adoration  with  which  he  has  inspired  her  not 
only  her  marriage  vow  and  every  shred  of  public 
decency,  but  that  vice  of  jealousy  which  is  so  much 
dearer  to  the  female  sex  than  either  intrinsic  honour 


86 


PRINCE  OTTO 


or  outward  consideration.  Nay,  more:  a young, 
although  not  a very  attractive  woman,  and  a Prin- 
cess both  by  birth  and  fact,  she  submits  to  the  tri- 
umphant rivalry  of  one  who  might  be  her  mother 
as  to  years,  and  who  is  so  manifestly  her  inferior 
in  station.  This  is  one  of  the  mysteries  of  the 
human  heart.  But  the  rage  of  illicit  love,  when  it 
is  once  indulged,  appears  to  grow  by  feeding;  and 
to  a person  of  the  character  and  temperament  of 
this  unfortunate  young  lady,  almost  any  depth  of 
degradation  is  within  the  reach  of  possibility. 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  PRINCE  AND  THE  ENGLISH  TRAVELLER 

SO  far  Otto  read,  with  waxing  indignation ; 
and  here  his  fury  overflowed.  He  tossed 
the  roll  upon  the  table  and  stood  up. 
“ This  man,”  he  said,  “ is  a devil.  A filthy  im- 
agination, an  ear  greedy  of  evil,  a ponderous  ma- 
lignity of  thought  and  language : I grow  like  him 
by  the  reading!  Chancellor,  where  is  this  fellow 
lodged  ? ” 

“ He  was  committed  to  the  Flag  Tower,”  replied 
Greisengesang,  “ in  the  Gamiani  apartment.” 

“ Lead  me  to  him,”  said  the  Prince ; and  then  a 
thought  striking  him,  “ Was  it  for  that,”  he  asked, 
“ that  I found  so  many  sentries  in  the  garden?  ” 

“ Your  Highness,  I am  unaware,”  answered 
Greisengesang,  true  to  his  policy.  “ The  dispo- 
sition of  the  guards  is  a matter  distinct  from  my 
functions.” 

Otto  turned  upon  the  old  man  fiercely,  but  ere 
he  had  time  to  speak,  Gotthold  touched  him  on  the 
arm.  He  swallowed  his  wrath  with  a great  effort. 


88 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ It  is  well,”  he  said,  taking  the  roll.  “ Follow  me 
to  the  Flag  Tower.” 

The  Chancellor  gathered  himself  together,  and 
the  two  set  forward.  It  was  a long  and  compli- 
cated voyage;  for  the  library  was  in  the  wing  of 
the  new  buildings,  and  the  tower  which  carried  the 
flag  was  in  the  old  schloss  upon  the  garden.  By 
a great  variety  of  stairs  and  corridors,  they  came 
out  at  last  upon  a patch  of  gravelled  court;  the 
garden  peeped  through  a high  grating  with  a 
flash  of  green;  tall,  old,  gabled  buildings  mounted 
on  every  side;  the  Flag  Tower  climbed,  stage  after 
stage,  into  the  blue ; and  high  over  all,  among  the 
building  daws,  the  yellow  flag  wavered  in  the  wind. 
A sentinel  at  the  foot  of  the  tower  stairs  presented 
arms;  another  paced  the  first  landing;  and  a third 
was  stationed  before  the  door  of  the  extemporised 
prison. 

“ We  guard  this  mud-bag  like  a jewel,”  Otto 
sneered. 

The  Gamiani  apartment  was  so  called  from  an 
Italian  doctor  who  had  imposed  on  the  credulity 
of  a former  prince.  The  rooms  were  large,  airy, 
pleasant,  and  looked  upon  the  garden ; but  the  walls 
were  of  great  thickness  (for  the  tower  was  old), 
and  the  windows  were  heavily  barred.  The  Prince, 
followed  by  the  Chancellor,  still  trotting  to  keep 
up  with  him,  brushed  swiftly  through  the  little 


PRINCE  OTTO  89 

library  and  the  long  saloon,  and  burst  like  a thun- 
derbolt into  the  bedroom  at  the  further  end.  Sir 
John  was  finishing  his  toilet;  a man  of  fifty,  hard, 
uncompromising,  able,  with  the  eye  and  teeth  of 
physical  courage.  He  was  unmoved  by  the  irrup- 
tion, and  bowed  with  a sort  of  sneering  ease. 

“ To  what  am  I to  attribute  the  honour  of  this 
visit?  ” he  asked. 

“ You  have  eaten  my  bread,’’  replied  Otto,  “ you 
have  taken  my  hand,  you  have  been  received  under 
my  roof.  When  did  I fail  you  in  courtesy  ? What 
have  you  asked  that  was  not  granted  as  to  an 
honoured  guest?  And  here,  sir,”  tapping  fiercely 
on  the  manuscript,  “ here  is  your  return.” 

“ Your  Highness  has  read  my  papers?”  said 
the  Baronet.  “ I am  honoured  indeed.  . But  the 
sketch  is  most  imperfect.  I shall  now  have  much 
to  add.  I can  say  that  the  Prince,  whom  I had 
accused  of  idleness,  is  zealous  in  the  department 
of  police,  taking  upon  himself  those  duties  that 
are  most  distasteful.  I shall  be  able  to  relate  the 
burlesque  incident  of  my  arrest,  and  the  singular 
interview  with  which  you  honour  me  at  present. 
For  the  rest,  I have  already  communicated  with  my 
Ambassador  at  Vienna;  and  unless  you  propose  to 
murder  me,  I shall  be  at  liberty,  whether  you  please 
or  not,  within  the  week.  For  I hardly  fancy  the 
future  empire  of  Griinewald  is  yet  ripe  to  go  to 


9° 


PRINCE  OTTO 


war  with  England.  I conceive  I am  a little  more 
than  quits.  I owe  you  no  explanation ; yours  has 
been  the  wrong.  You,  if  you  have  studied  my  writ- 
ing with  intelligence,  owe  me  a large  debt  of  grati- 
tude. And  to  conclude,  as  I have  not  yet  finished 
my  toilet,  I imagine  the  courtesy  of  a turnkey  to 
a prisoner  would  induce  you  to  withdraw.” 

There  was  some  paper  on  the  table,  and  Otto, 
sitting  down,  wrote  a passport  in  the  name  of  Sir 
John  Crabtree. 

“ Affix  the  seal,  Herr  Cancellarius,”  he  said,  in 
his  most  princely  manner,  as  he  rose. 

Greisengesang  produced  a red  portfolio,  and 
affixed  the  seal  in  the  unpoetic  guise  of  an  adhesive 
stamp;  nor  did  his  perturbed  and  clumsy  move- 
ments at  all  lessen  the  comedy  of  the  performance. 
Sir  John  looked  on  with  a malign  enjoyment;  and 
Otto  chafed,  regretting,  when  too  late,  the  un- 
necessary royalty  of  his  command  and  gesture. 
But  at  length  the  Chancellor  had  finished  his 
piece  of  prestidigitation,  and,  without  waiting 
for  an  order,  had  countersigned  the  passport. 
Thus  regularised,  he  returned  it  to  Otto  with  a 
bow. 

“ You  will  now,”  said  the  Prince,  “ order  one 
of  my  own  carriages  to  be  prepared;  see  it,  with 
your  own  eyes,  charged  with  Sir  John's  effects,  and 
have  it  waiting  within  the  hour  behind  the  Pheas- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


91 

ant  House.  Sir  John  departs  this  morning  for 
Vienna.’’ 

The  Chancellor  took  his  elaborate  departure. 

“ Here,  sir,  is  your  passport,”  said  Otto,  turning 
to  the  Baronet.  “ I regret  it  from  my  heart  that 
you  have  met  inhospitable  usage.” 

“ Well,  there  will  be  no  English  war,”  returned 
Sir  John. 

“ Nay,  sir,”  said  Otto,  “ you  surely  owe  me 
your  civility.  Matters  are  now  changed,  and  we 
stand  again  upon  the  footing  of  two  gentlemen. 
It  was  not  I who  ordered  your  arrest;  I returned 
late  last  night  from  hunting;  and  as  you  cannot 
blame  me  for  your  imprisonment,  you  may  even 
thank  me  for  your  freedom.” 

“ And  yet  you  read  my  papers,”  said  the  trav- 
eller, shrewdly. 

“ There,  sir,  I was  wrong,”  returned  Otto; 
“ and  for  that  I ask  your  pardon.  You  can  scarce 
refuse  it,  for  your  own  dignity,  to  one  who  is 
a plexus  of  weaknesses.  Nor  was  the  fault  entirely 
mine.  Had  the  papers  been  innocent,  it  would  have 
been  at  most  an  indiscretion.  Your  own  guilt  is 
the  sting  of  my  offence.” 

Sir  John  regarded  Otto  with  an  approving 
twinkle ; then  he  bowed,  but  still  in  silence. 

“ Well,  sir,  as  you  are  now  at  your  entire  dis- 
posal, I have  a favour  to  beg  of  your  indulgence,” 


92 


PRINCE  OTTO 


continued  the  Prince.  “ I have  to  request  that  you 
will  walk  with  me  alone  into  the  garden  so  soon 
as  your  convenience  permits.’’ 

“ From  the  moment  that  I am  a free  man/’  Sir 
John  replied,  this  time  with  perfect  courtesy,  “ I 
am  wholly  at  your  Highness’s  command;  and  if 
you  will  excuse  a rather  summary  toilet,  I will  even 
follow  you  as  I am.” 

“ I thank  you,  sir,”  said  Otto. 

So  without  more  delay,  the  Prince  leading,  the 
pair  proceeded  down  through  the  echoing  stairway 
of  the  tower,  and  out  through  the  grating,  into 
the  ample  air  and  sunshine  of  the  morning,  and 
among  the  terraces  and  flower-beds  of  the  garden. 
They  crossed  the  fish-pond,  where  the  carp  were 
leaping  as  thick  as  bees;  they  mounted,  one  after 
another,  the  various  flights  of  stairs,  snowed  upon, 
as  they  went,  with  April  blossoms,  and  marching  in 
time  to  the  great  orchestra  of  birds.  Nor  did  Otto 
pause  till  they  had  reached  the  highest  terrace  of 
the  garden.  Here  was  a gate  into  the  park,  and 
hard  by,  under  a tuft  of  laurel,  a marble  garden 
seat.  Hence  they  looked  down  on  the  green  tops 
of  many  elm-trees,  where  the  rooks  were  busy ; and, 
beyond  that,  upon  the  palace  roof,  and  the  yellow 
banner  flying  in  the  blue.  “ I pray  you  to  be 
seated,  sir,”  said  Otto. 

Sir  John  complied  without  a word;  and  for  some 


PRINCE  OTTO 


93 


seconds  Otto  walked  to  and  fro  before  him,  plunged 
in  angry  thought.  The  birds  were  all  singing  for 
a wager. 

“ Sir,”  said  the  Prince  at  length,  turning  towards 
the  Englishman,  “ you  are  to  me,  except  by  the 
conventions  of  society,  a perfect  stranger.  Of  your 
character  and  wishes  I am  ignorant.  I have  never 
wittingly  disobliged  you.  There  is  a difference  in 
station,  which  I desire  to  waive.  I would,  if  you 
still  think  me  entitled  to  so  much  consideration  — 
I would  be  regarded  simply  as  a gentleman.  Now, 
sir,  I did  wrong  to  glance  at  these  papers,  which 
I here  return  to  you;  but  if  curiosity  be  undignified, 
as  I am  free  to  own,  falsehood  is  both  cowardly 
and  cruel.  I opened  your  roll ; and  what  did  I find 
— what  did  I find  about  my  wife?  Lies!”  he 
broke  out.  “They  are  lies ! There  are  not,  so  help 
me  God ! four  words  of  truth  in  your  intolerable 
libel!  You  are  a man;  you  are  old,  and  might  be 
the  girl’s  father;  you  are  a gentleman;  you  are  a 
scholar,  and  have  learned  refinement ; and  you  rake 
together  all  this  vulgar  scandal,  and  propose  to 
print  it  in  a public  book!  Such  is  your  chivalry! 
But,  thank  God,  sir,  she  has  still  a husband.  You 
say,  sir,  in  that  paper  in  your  hand,  that  I am  a 
bad  fencer;  I have  to  request  from  you  a lesson 
in  the  art.  The  park  is  close  behind;  yonder  is 
the  Pheasant  House,  where  you  will  find  your 


94 


PRINCE  OTTO 


carriage ; should  I fall,  you  know,  sir  — you  have 
written  it  in  your  paper  — how  little  my  move- 
ments are  regarded;  I am  in  the  custom  of  dis- 
appearing; it  will  be  one  more  disappearance,  and 
long  before  it  has  awakened  a remark,  you  may  be 
safe  across  the  border.” 

“ You  will  observe,”  said  Sir  John,  “ that  what 
you  ask  is  impossible.” 

“ And  if  I struck  you?  ” cried  the  Prince,  with  a 
sudden  menacing  flash. 

“ It  would  be  a cowardly  blow,”  returned  the 
Baronet,  unmoved,  “ for  it  would  make  no  change. 
I cannot  draw  upon  a reigning  sovereign.” 

“ And  it  is  this  man,  to  whom  you  dare  not 
offer  satisfaction,  that  you  choose  to  insult ! ” cried 
Otto. 

“ Pardon  me,”  said  the  traveller,  “ you  are  un- 
just. It  is  because  you  are  a reigning  sovereign 
that  I cannot  fight  with  you;  and  it  is  for  the 
same  reason  that  I have  a right  to  criticise  your 
action  and  your  wife.  You  are  in  everything  a 
public  creature;  you  belong  to  the  public,  body 
and  bone.  You  have  with  you  the  law,  the  muskets 
of  the  army,  and  the  eyes  of  spies.  We,  on  our 
side,  have  but  one  weapon  — truth.” 

“ Truth ! ” echoed  the  Prince,  with  a gesture. 

There  was  another  silence. 

“ Your  Highness,”  said  Sir  John  at  last,  “ you 


PRINCE  OTTO 


95 


must  not  expect  grapes  from  a thistle.  I am  old 
and  a cynic.  Nobody  cares  a rush  for  me;  and 
on  the  whole,  after  the  present  interview,  I scarce 
know  anybody  that  I like  better  than  yourself.  You 
see,  I have  changed  my  mind,  and  have  the  uncom- 
mon virtue  to  avow  the  change.  I tear  up  this 
stuff  before  you,  here  in  your  own  garden;  I ask 
your  pardon,  I ask  the  pardon  of  the  Princess ; and 
I give  you  my  word  of  honour  as  a gentleman  and 
an  old  man,  that  when  my  book  of  travels  shall 
appear  it  shall  not  contain  so  much  as  the  name 
of  Griinewald.  And  yet  it  was  a racy  chapter! 
But  had  your  Highness  only  read  about  the  other 
Courts!  I am  a carrion  crow;  but  it  is  not  my 
fault,  after  all,  that  the  world  is  such  a nauseous 
kennel/’ 

“ Sir,”  said  Otto,  “ is  the  eye  not  jaundiced?  ” 

“ Nay,”  cried  the  traveller,  “ very  likely.  I am 
one  who  goes  sniffing;  I am  no  poet.  I believe 
in  a better  future  for  the  world;  or,  at  all  ac- 
counts, I do  most  potently  disbelieve  in  the  pres- 
ent. Rotten  eggs  is  the  burden  of  my  song.  But 
indeed,  your  Highness,  when  I meet  with  any  merit, 
I do  not  think  that  I am  slow  to  recognise  it.  This 
is  a day  that  I shall  still  recall  with  gratitude,  for 
I have  found  a sovereign  with  some  manly  virtues ; 
and  for  once  — old  courtier  and  old  radical  as  I 
am  — it  is  from  the  heart  and  quite  sincerely  that 


96  PRINCE  OTTO 

I can  request  the  honour  of  kissing  your  Highness’s 
hand?  ” 

“ Nay,  sir,”  said  Otto,  “ to  my  heart!  ” 

And  the  Englishman,  taken  at  unawares,  was 
clasped  for  a moment  in  the  Prince’s  arms. 

“ And  now,  sir,”  added  Otto,  “ there  is  the 
Pheasant  House;  close  behind  it  you  will  find  my 
carriage,  which  I pray  you  to  accept.  God  speed 
you  to  Vienna ! ” 

“ In  the  impetuosity  of  youth,”  replied  Sir  John, 
“ your  Highness  has  overlooked  one  circumstance. 
I am  still  fasting.” 

“ Well,  sir,”  said  Otto,  smiling,  “ you  are  your 
own  master;  you  may  go  or  stay.  But  I warn 
you,  your  friend  may  prove  less  powerful  than 
your  enemies.  The  Prince,  indeed,  is  thoroughly 
on  your  side;  he  has  all  the  will  to  help;  but  to 
whom  do  I speak  ? — you  know  better  than  I do, 
he  is  not  alone  in  Griinewald.” 

“ There  is  a deal  in  position,”  returned  the 
traveller,  gravely  nodding.  “ Gondremark  loves 
to  temporise;  his  policy  is  below  ground,  and  he 
fears  all  open  courses;  and  now  that  I have  seen 
you  act  with  so  much  spirit,  I will  cheerfully  risk 
myself  on  your  protection.  Who  knows?  You 
may  be  yet  the  better  man.” 

“ Do  you  indeed  believe  so?”  cried  the  Prince. 
“You  put  life  into  my  heart!” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


97 


“ I will  give  up  sketching  portraits,”  said  the 
Baronet.  “ I am  a blind  owl ; I had  misread  you 
strangely.  And  yet  remember  this : a sprint  is  one 
thing,  and  to  run  all  day  another.  For  I still  mis- 
trust your  constitution:  the  short  nose,  the  hair 
and  eyes  of  several  complexions ; no,  they  are  diag- 
nostic; and  I must  end,  I see,  as  I began.” 

“ I am  still  a singing  chambermaid  ? ” said  Otto. 
“ Nay,  your  Highness,  I pray  you  to  forget  what 
I had  written,”  said  Sir  John;  “I  am  not  like 
Pilate;  and  the  chapter  is  no  more.  Bury  it,  if 
you  love  me.” 


VOL.  v.  — 7 


CHAPTER  IV 


WHILE  THE  PRINCE  IS  IN  THE  ANTE- 
ROOM . . . 

GREATLY  comforted  by  the  exploits  of 
the  morning,  the  Prince  turned  towards 
the  Princess’s  ante-room,  bent  on  a more 
difficult  enterprise.  The  curtains  rose  before  him, 
the  usher  called  his  name,  and  he  entered  the  room 
with  an  exaggeration  of  his  usual  mincing  and 
airy  dignity.  There  were  about  a score  of  persons 
waiting,  principally  ladies ; it  was  one  of  the  few. 
societies  in  Grunewald  where  Otto  knew  himself 
to  be  popular;  and  while  a maid  of  honour  made 
her  exit  by  a side  door  to  announce  his  arrival 
to  the  Princess,  he  moved  round  the  apartment, 
collecting  homage  and  bestowing  compliments, 
with  friendly  grace.  Had  this  been  the  sum  of 
his  duties,  he  had  been  an  admirable  monarch. 
Lady  after  lady  was  impartially  honoured  by  his 
attention. 

“ Madam,”  he  said  to  one,  “ how  does  this 
happen?  I find  you  daily  more  adorable.” 

“ And  your  Highness  daily  browner,”  replied 


PRINCE  OTTO 


99 


the  lady.  “ We  began  equal;  O,  there  I will  be 
bold:  we  have  both  beautiful  complexions.  But 
while  I study  mine,  your  Highness  tans  himself.” 

“ A perfect  negro,  madam ; and  what  so  fitly 
— being  beauty’s  slave?”  said  Otto.  “ Madame 
Grafinski,  when  is  our  next  play?  I have  just 
heard  that  I am  a bad  actor.” 

“ O del /”  cried  Madame  Grafinski.  “ Who 
could  venture  ? What  a bear ! ” 

“ An  excellent  man,  I can  assure  you,”  returned 
Otto. 

“ O,  never!  O,  is  it  possible!  ” fluted  the  lady. 
“ Your  Highness  plays  like  an  angel.” 

“ You  must  be  right,  madam ; who  could  speak 
falsely  and  yet  look  so  charming?  ” said  the  Prince. 
“ But  this  gentleman,  it  seems,  would  have  pre- 
ferred me  playing  like  an  actor.” 

A sort  of  hum,  a falsetto,  feminine  cooing, 
greeted  the  tiny  sally;  and  Otto  expanded  like  a 
peacock.  This  warm  atmosphere  of  women  and 
flattery  and  idle  chatter  pleased  him  to  the  marrow. 

“ Madame  von  Eisenthal,  your  coiffure  is  deli- 
cious,” he  remarked. 

“ Every  one  was  saying  so,”  said  one. 

“If  I have  pleased  Prince  Charming?”  And 
Madame  von  Eisenthal  swept  him  a deep  curtsey 
with  a killing  glance  of  adoration. 

“ It  is  new?  ” he  asked.  “ Vienna  fashion.” 


IOO 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Mint  new,”  replied  the  lady,  “ for  your  High- 
ness’s return.  I felt  young  this  morning;  it  was 
a premonition.  But  why,  Prince,  do  you  ever  leave 
us?” 

“ For  the  pleasure  of  the  return,”  said  Otto.  “ I 
am  like  a dog;  I must  bury  my  bone,  and  then 
come  back  to  gloat  upon  it.” 

“ O,  a bone!  Fie,  what  a comparison!  You 
have  brought  back  the  manners  of  the  wood,”  re- 
turned the  lady. 

“ Madam,  it  is  what  the  dog  has  dearest,”  said 
the  Prince.  “ But  I observe  Madame  von  Rosen.” 

And  Otto,  leaving  the  group  to  which  he  had 
been  piping,  stepped  towards  the  embrasure  of  a 
window  where  a lady  stood. 

The  Countess  von  Rosen  had  hitherto  been 
silent,  and  a thought  depressed,  but  on  the  ap- 
proach of  Otto  she  began  to  brighten.  She  was 
tall,  slim  as  a nymph,  and  of  a very  airy  carriage ; 
and  her  face,  which  was  already  beautiful  in  re- 
pose, lightened  and  changed,  flashed  into  smiles, 
and  glowed  with  lovely  colour  at  the  touch  of  ani- 
mation. She  was  a good  vocalist;  and,  even  in 
speech,  her  voice  commanded  a great  range  of 
changes,  the  low  notes  rich  with  tenor  quality,  the 
upper  ringing,  on  the  brink  of  laughter,  into  music. 
A gem  of  many  facets  and  variable  hues  of  fire ; 
a woman  who  withheld  the  better  portion  of  her 


PRINCE  OTTO 


IOI 


beauty,  and  then,  in  a caressing  second,  flashed  it 
like  a weapon  full  on  the  beholder;  now  merely  a 
tall  figure  and  a sallow  handsome  face,  with  the 
evidences  of  a reckless  temper;  anon  opening  like 
a flower  to  life  and  colour,  mirth  and  tender- 
ness : — Madame  von  Rosen  had  always  a dagger 
in  reserve  for  the  despatch  of  ill-assured  admirers. 
She  met  Otto  with  the  dart  of  tender  gaiety. 

“ You  have  come  to  me  at  last,  Prince  Cruel,” 
she  said.  “ Butterfly!  Well,  and  am  I not  to  kiss 
your  hand  ? ” she  added. 

“ Madam,  it  is  I who  must  kiss  yours.”  And 
Otto  bowed  and  kissed  it. 

“ You  deny  me  every  indulgence,”  she  said, 
smiling. 

“ And  now  what  news  in  Court?”  inquired  the 
Prince.  “ I come  to  you  for  my  gazette.” 

“ Ditch-water ! ” she  replied.  “ The  world  is  all 
asleep,  grown  grey  in  slumber ; I do  not  remember 
any  waking  movement  since  quite  an  eternity ; and 
the  last  thing  in  the  nature  of  a sensation  was  the 
last  time  my  governess  was  allowed  to  box  my 
ears.  But  yet  I do  myself  and  your  unfortunate 
enchanted  palace  some  injustice.  Here  is  the  last 
— O positively!”  And  she  told  him  the  story 
from  behind  her  fan,  with  many  glances,  many 
cunning  strokes  of  the  narrator’s  art.  The  others 
had  drawn  away,  for  it  was  understood  that 


T 02 


PRINCE  OTTO 


Madame  von  Rosen  was  in  favour  with  the  Prince. 
None  the  less,  however,  did  the  Countess  lower  her 
voice  at  times  to  within  a semitone  of  whispering; 
and  the  pair  leaned  together  over  the  narrative. 

“ Do  you  know/'  said  Otto,  laughing,  “ you  are 
the  only  entertaining  woman  on  this  earth ! ” 

“ O,  you  have  found  out  so  much,”  she  cried. 

“ Yes,  madam,  I grow  wiser  with  advancing 
years,”  he  returned. 

“ Years!”  she  repeated.  “ Do  you  name  the 
traitors?  I do  not  believe  in  years;  the  calendar 
is  a delusion.” 

“ You  must  be  right,  madam,”  replied  the 
Prince.  “ For  six  years  that  we  have  been  good 
friends,  I have  observed  you  to  grow  younger.” 

“ Flatterer!  ” cried  she;  and  then  with  a change, 
“ But  why  should  I say  so,”  she  added,  “ when  I 
protest  I think  the  same?  A week  ago  I had  a 
council  with  my  Father  Director,  the  glass;  and 
the  glass  replied,  ‘Not  yet!’  I confess  my  face 
in  this  way  once  a month.  O ! a very  solemn 
moment.  Do  you  know  what  I shall  do  when  the 
mirror  answers,  ‘ Now  ’ ? ” 

“ I cannot  guess,”  said  he. 

“ No  more  can  I,”  returned  the  Countess. 
“ There  is  such  a choice ! Suicide,  gambling,  a 
nunnery,  a volume  of  memoirs,  or  politics  — the 
last,  I am  afraid.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  103 

“ It  is  a dull  trade,”  said  Otto. 

“ Nay,”  she  replied,  “ it  is  a trade  I rather  like. 
It  is,  after  all,  first  cousin  to  gossip,  which  no  one 
can  deny  to  be  amusing.  For  instance,  if  I were 
to  tell  you  that  the  Princess  and  the  Baron  rode 
out  together  daily  to  inspect  the  cannon,  it  is  either 
a piece  of  politics  or  scandal,  as  I turn  my  phrase. 
I am  the  alchemist  that  makes  the  transmutation. 
They  have  been  everywhere  together  since  you 
left/’  she  continued,  brightening  as  she  saw  Otto 
darken ; “ that  is  a poor  snippet  of  malicious  gossip 
— and  they  were  everywhere  cheered  — and  with 
that  addition  all  becomes  political  intelligence.” 

“ Let  us  change  the  subject,”  said  Otto. 

” I was  about  to  propose  it,”  she  replied,  “ or 
rather  to  pursue  the  politics.  Do  you  know?  this 
war  is  popular  — popular  to  the  length  of  cheer- 
ing Princess  Seraphina.” 

“ All  things,  madam,  are  possible,”  said  the 
Prince ; “ and  this  among  others,  that  we  may  be 
going  into  war,  but  I give  you  my  word  of  honour 
I do  not  know  with  whom.” 

“ And  you  put  up  with  it?  ” she  cried.  “ I have 
no  pretensions  to  morality;  and  I confess  I have 
always  abominated  the  lamb,  and  nourished  a ro- 
mantic feeling  for  the  wolf.  O,  be  done  with 
lambiness!  Let  us  see  there  is  a prince,  for  I am 
weary  of  the  distaff.” 


104 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Madam,”  said  Otto,  “ I thought  you  were  of 
that  faction.” 

“ I should  be  of  yours,  mon  Prince , if  you 
had  one,”  she  retorted.  “ Is  it  true  that  you 
have  no  ambition?  There  was  a man  once  in 
England  whom  they  call  the  kingmaker.  Do 
you  know,”  she  added,  “ I fancy  I could  make 
a prince?” 

“ Some  day,  madam,”  said  Otto,  “ I may  ask 
you  to  help  make  a farmer.” 

“ Is  that  a riddle?  ” asked  the  Countess. 

“ It  is,”  replied  the  Prince,  “ and  a very  good 
one  too.” 

“ Tit  for  tat.  I will  ask  you  another,”  she  re- 
turned. “ Where  is  Gondremark?” 

a The  Prime  Minister?  In  the  prime  ministry, 
no  doubt,”  said  Otto. 

“ Precisely,”  said  the  Countess;  and  she  pointed 
with  her  fan  to  the  door  of  the  Princess’s  apart- 
ments. “ You  and  I,  mon  Prince , are  in  the  ante- 
room. You  think  me  unkind,”  she  added.  “ Try 
me  and  you  will  see.  Set  me  a task,  put  me  a 
question;  there  is  no  enormity  I am  not  capable 
of  doing  to  oblige  you,  and  no  secret  that  I am 
not  ready  to  betray.” 

“ Nay,  madam,  but  I respect  my  friend  too 
much,”  he  answered,  kissing  her  hand.  “ I would 
rather  remain  ignorant  of  all.  We  fraternise  like 


PRINCE  OTTO 


io5 

foemen  soldiers  at  the  outposts,  but  let  each  be 
true  to  his  own  army/’ 

“ Ah,”  she  cried,  “ if  all  men  were  generous 
like  you,  it  would  be  worth  while  to  be  a woman ! ” 
Yet,  judging  by  her  looks,  his  generosity,  if  any- 
thing, had  disappointed  her;  she  seemed  to  seek 
a remedy,  and,  having  found  it,  brightened  once 
more.  “ And  now,”  she  said,  “ may  I dismiss  my 
sovereign?  This  is  rebellion  and  a cas  pendable ; 
but  what  am  I to  do?  My  bear  is  jealous!  ” 

“ Madam,  enough  ! ” cried  Otto.  “ Ahasuerus 
reaches  you  the  sceptre;  more,  he  will  obey  you 
in  all  points.  I should  have  been  a dog  to  come 
to  whistling.” 

And  so  the  Prince  departed,  and  fluttered  round 
Grafinski  and  Von  Eisenthal.  But  the  Countess 
knew  the  use  of  her  offensive  weapons,  and  had 
left  a pleasant  arrow  in  the  Prince's  heart.  That 
Gondremark  was  jealous  — here  was  an  agreeable 
revenge!  And  Madame  von  Rosen,  as  the  occa- 
sion of  the  jealousy,  appeared  to  him  in  a new 
light. 


CHAPTER  V 


. . . GONDREMARK  IS  IN  MY  LADY’S 
CHAMBER 

THE  Countess  von  Rosen  spoke  the  truth. 

The  great  Prime  Minister  of  Grimewald 
was  already  closeted  with  Seraphina. 
The  toilet  was  over;  and  the  Princess,  tastefully 
arrayed,  sat  face  to  face  with  a tall  mirror.  Sir 
John's  description  was  unkindly  true,  true  in  terms 
and  yet  a libel,  a misogynistic  masterpiece.  Her 
forehead  was  perhaps  too  high,  but  it  became  her ; 
her  figure  somewhat  stooped,  but  every  detail  was 
formed  and  finished  like  a gem;  her  hand,  her 
foot,  her  ear,  the  set  of  her  comely  head,  were  all 
dainty  and  accordant;  if  she  was  not  beautiful, 
she  was  vivid,  changeful,  coloured,  and  pretty  with 
a thousand  various  prettinesses;  and  her  eyes,  if 
they  indeed  rolled  too  consciously,  yet  rolled  to 
purpose.  They  were  her  most  attractive  feature, 
yet  they  continually  bore  eloquent  false  witness 
to  her  thoughts ; for  while  she  herself,  in  the 
depths  of  her  immature,  unsoftened  heart,  was 
given  altogether  to  manlike  ambition  and  the  de- 


PRINCE  OTTO  107 

sire  of  power,  the  eyes  were  by  turns  bold,  invit- 
ing, fiery,  melting,  and  artful,  like  the  eyes  of  a 
rapacious  syren.  And  artful,  in  a sense,  she  was. 
Chafing  that  she  was  not  a man  and  could  not 
shine  by  action,  she  had  conceived  a woman’s  part, 
of  answerable  domination;  she  sought  to  subju- 
gate for  by-ends,  to  rain  influence  and  be  fancy 
free;  and  while  she  loved  not  man,  loved  to  see 
man  obey  her.  It  is  a common  girl’s  ambition. 
Such  was  perhaps  that  lady  of  the  glove,  who  sent 
her  lover  to  the  lions.  But  the  snare  is  laid  alike 
for  male  and  female,  and  the  world  most  artfully 
contrived. 

Near  her,  in  a low  chair,  Gondremark  had 
arranged  his  limbs  into  a cat-like  attitude,  high- 
shouldered, stooping,  and  submiss.  The  formi- 
dable blue  jowl  of  the  man,  and  the  dull  bilious 
eye,  set  perhaps  a higher  value  on  his  evident  desire 
to  please.  His  face  was  marked  by  capacity,  tem- 
per, and  a kind  of  bold,  piratical  dishonesty  which 
it  would  be  calumnious  to  call  deceit.  His  man- 
ners, as  he  smiled  upon  the  Princess,  were  overfine, 
yet  hardly  elegant. 

“ Possibly/’  said  the  Baron,  “ I should  now 
proceed  to  take  my  leave.  I must  not  keep  my 
sovereign  in  the  ante-room.  Let  us  come  at  once 
to  a decision.” 

“ It  cannot,  cannot  be  put  off?  ” she  asked. 


io8 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ It  is  impossible/'  answered  Gondremark. 
“ Your  Highness  sees  it  for  herself.  In  the 
earlier  stages,  we  might  imitate  the  serpent;  but 
for  the  ultimatum,  there  is  no  choice  but  to  be 
bold  like  lions.  Had  the  Prince  chosen  to  remain 
away,  it  had  been  better;  but  we  have  gone  too 
far  forward  to  delay." 

“ What  can  have  brought  him?"  she  cried. 
“To-day  of  all  days?" 

“ The  marplot,  madam,  has  the  instinct  of  his 
nature,"  returned  Gondremark.  “ But  you  ex- 
aggerate the  peril.  Think,  madam,  how  far  we 
have  prospered,  and  against  what  odds!  Shall  a 
Featherhead?  — but  no!"  And  he  blew  upon  his 
fingers  lightly  with  a laugh. 

“ Featherhead,"  she  replied,  “ is  still  the  Prince 
of  Grimewald." 

“ On  your  sufferance  only,  and  so  long  as  you 
shall  please  to  be  indulgent,"  said  the  Baron. 
“ There  are  rights  of  nature;  power  to  the  power- 
ful is  the  law.  If  he  shall  think  to  cross  your 
destiny  — well,  you  have  heard  of  the  brazen  and 
the  earthen  pot." 

“ Do  you  call  me  pot?  You  are  ungallant, 
Baron,"  laughed  the  Princess. 

“ Before  we  are  done  with  your  glory,  I shall 
have  called  you  by  many  different  titles,"  he  replied. 

The  girl  flushed  with  pleasure.  “ But  Frederic 


PRINCE  OTTO 


109 

is  still  the  Prince,  Monsieur  le  Flatteur”  she  said. 
“ You  do  not  propose  a revolution?  — you  of  all 
men?  ” 

“ Dear  madam,  when  it  is  already  made!”  he 
cried.  “ The  Prince  reigns  indeed  in  the  alma- 
nack; but  my  Princess  reigns  and  rules.”  And 
he  looked  at  her  with  a fond  admiration  that  made 
the  heart  of  Seraphina  swell.  Looking  on  her 
huge  slave,  she  drank  the  intoxicating  joys  of 
power.  Meanwhile  he  continued,  with  that  sort 
of  massive  archness  that  so  ill  became  him,  “ She 
has  but  one  fault;  there  is  but  one  danger  in  the 
great  career  that  I foresee  for  her.  May  I name 
it  ? may  I be  so  irreverent  ? It  is  in  herself  — her 
heart  is  soft.” 

“ Her  courage  is  faint,  Baron,”  said  the  Prin- 
cess. “ Suppose  we  have  judged  ill,  suppose  we 
were  defeated  ? ” 

“ Defeated,  madam?  ” returned  the  Baron,  with 
a touch  of  ill  humour.  “ Is  the  dog  defeated  by 
the  hare?  Our  troops  are  all  cantoned  along  the 
frontier;  in  five  hours  the  vanguard  of  five  thou- 
sand bayonets  shall  be  hammering  on  the  gates  of 
Brandenau;  and  in  all  Gerolstein  there  are  not 
fifteen  hundred  men  who  can  manoeuvre.  It  is  as 
simple  as  a sum.  There  can  be  no  resistance.” 

“ It  is  no  great  exploit,”  she  said.  “ Is  that 
what  you  call  glory?  It  is  like  beating  a child.” 


I IO 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ The  courage,  madam,  is  diplomatic/’  he  re- 
plied. “ We  take  a grave  step;  we  fix  the  eyes 
of  Europe,  for  the  first  time,  on  Griinewald;  and 
in  the  negotiations  of  the  next  three  months,  mark 
me,  we  stand  or  fall.  It  is  there,  madam,  that  I 
shall  have  to  depend  upon  your  counsels/’  he  added, 
almost  gloomily.  “ If  I had  not  seen  you  at  work, 
if  I did  not  know  the  fertility  of  your  mind,  I own 
I should  tremble  for  the  consequence.  But  it  is 
in  this  field  that  men  must  recognise  their  inability. 
All  the  great  negotiators,  when  they  have  not  been 
women,  have  had  women  at  their  elbows.  Madame 
de  Pompadour  was  ill  served;  she  had  not  found 
her  Gondremark;  but  what  a mighty  politician! 
Catherine  de’  Medici,  too,  what  justice  of  sight, 
what  readiness  of  means,  what  elasticity  against 
defeat ! But  alas ! madam,  her  Featherheads  were 
her  own  children;  and  she  had  that  one  touch  of 
vulgarity,  that  one  trait  of  the  good-wife,  that  she 
suffered  family  ties  and  affections  to  confine  her 
liberty.” 

These  singular  views  of  history,  strictly  ad  usum 
Seraphince,  did  not  weave  their  usual  soothing 
spell  over  the  Princess.  It  was  plain  that  she  had 
taken  a momentary  distaste  to  her  own  resolu- 
tions ; for  she  continued  to  oppose  her  counsellor, 
looking  upon  him  out  of  half-closed  eyes  and  with 
the  shadow  of  a sneer  upon  her  lips.  “ What  boys 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 1 1 


men  are!”  she  said;  “ what  lovers  of  big  words! 
Courage,  indeed ! If  you  had  to  scour  pans,  Herr 
von  Gondremark,  you  would  call  it,  I suppose, 
Domestic  Courage?” 

“ I would,  madam,”  said  the  Baron,  stdutly,  “ if 
I scoured  them  well.  I would  put  a good  name 
upon  a virtue;  you  will  not  overdo  it;  they  are 
not  so  enchanting  in  themselves.” 

“ Well,  but  let  me  see,”  she  said.  “ I wish  to 
understand  your  courage.  Why,  we  asked  leave, 
like  children ! Our  grannie  in  Berlin,  our  uncle 
in  Vienna,  the  whole  family,  have  patted  us  on 
the  head  and  sent  us  forward.  Courage?  I won- 
der when  I hear  you ! ” 

“ My  Princess  is  unlike  herself,”  returned  the 
Baron.  “ She  has  forgotten  where  the  peril  lies. 
True,  we  have  received  encouragement  on  every 
hand;  but  my  Princess  knows  too  well  on  what 
untenable  conditions ; and  she  knows  besides  how, 
in  the  publicity  of  the  diet,  these  whispered  con- 
ferences are  forgotten  and  disowned.  The  danger 
is  very  real  ” — he  raged  inwardly  at  having  to 
blow  the  very  coal  he  had  been  quenching  — 
“ none  the  less  real  in  that  it  is  not  precisely 
military,  but  for  that  reason  the  easier  to  be 
faced.  Had  we  to  count  upon  your  troops,  al- 
though I share  your  Highness’s  expectations  of 
the  conduct  of  Alvenau,  we  cannot  forget  that  he 


112  PRINCE  OTTO 

has  not  been  proved  in  chief  command.  But  where 
negotiation  is  concerned,  the  conduct  lies  with  us; 
and  with  your  help  I laugh  at  danger.” 

“ It  may  be  so,”  said  Seraphina,  sighing.  “ It 
is  elsewhere  that  I see  danger.  The  people,  these 
abominable  people  — suppose  they  should  instantly 
rebel?  What  a figure  we  should  make  in  the  eyes 
of  Europe  to  have  undertaken  an  invasion  while 
my  own  throne  was  tottering  to  its  fall ! ” 

“ Nay,  madam,”  said  Gondremark,  smiling, 
“ here  you  are  beneath  yourself.  What  is  it  that 
feeds  their  discontent?  What  but  the  taxes? 
Once  we  have  seized  Gerolstein,  the  taxes  are 
remitted,  the  sons  return  covered  with  renown, 
the  houses  are  adorned  with  pillage,  each  tastes 
his  little  share  of  military  glory,  and  behold  us 
once  again  a happy  family ! ‘ Ay,’  they  will  say, 

in  each  other’s  long  ears,  ‘ the  Princess  knew  what 
she  was  about;  she  was  in  the  right  of  it;  she 
has  a head  upon  her  shoulders;  and  here  we  are, 
you  see,  better  off  than  before.’  But  why  should 
I say  all  this?  It  is  what  my  Princess  pointed  out 
to  me  herself ; it  was  by  these  reasons  that  she 
converted  me  to  this  adventure.” 

“ I think,  Herr  von  Gondremark,”  said  Ser- 
aphina, somewhat  tartly,  “ you  often  attribute  your 
own  sagacity  to  your  Princess.” 

For  a second  Gondremark  staggered  under  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


IX3 


shrewdness  of  the  attack;  the  next,  he  had  per- 
fectly recovered.  “ Do  I ? ” he  said.  “ It  is  very 
possible.  I have  observed  a similar  tendency  in 
your  Highness.” 

It  was  so  openly  spoken,  and  appeared  so  just, 
that  Seraphina  breathed  again.  Her  vanity  had 
been  alarmed,  and  the  greatness  of  the  relief  im- 
proved her  spirits.  “ Well,”  she  said,  “ all  this  is 
little  to  the  purpose.  We  are  keeping  Frederic 
without,  and  I am  still  ignorant  of  our  line  of 
battle.  Come,  co-admiral,  let  us  consult  . . . 
How  am  I to  receive  him  now?  And  what  are 
we  to  do  if  he  should  appear  at  the  council?” 

“ Now,”  he  answered.  “ I shall  leave  him  to 
my  Princess  for  just  now!  I have  seen  her  at 
work.  Send  him  off  to  his  theatricals ! But  in 
all  gentleness,”  he  added.  “ Would  it,  for  in- 
stance, would  it  displease  my  sovereign  to  affect 
a headache?” 

“ Never ! ” said  she.  “ The  woman  who  can 
manage,  like  the  man  who  can  fight,  must  never 
shrink  from  an  encounter.  The  knight  must  not 
disgrace  his  weapons.” 

“ Then  let  me  pray  my  belle  dame  sans  merci  ” 
he  returned,  “ to  affect  the  only  virtue  that  she 
lacks.  Be  pitiful  to  the  poor  young  man;  affect 
an  interest  in  his  hunting;  be  weary  of  politics; 
find  in  his  society,  as  it  were,  a grateful  repose 

VOL.  v. — 8 


1 14  PRINCE  OTTO 

from  dry  considerations.  Does  my  Princess  au- 
thorise the  line  of  battle  ?” 

“ Well,  that  is  a trifle,”  answered  Seraphina. 
“ The  council  — there  is  the  point.” 

“ The  council  ? ” cried  Gondremark.  “ Permit 
me,  madam.”  And  he  rose  and  proceeded  to  flut- 
ter about  the  room,  counterfeiting  Otto  both  in 
voice  and  gesture  not  unhappily.  “ What  is  there 
to-day,  Herr  von  Gondremark?  Ah,  Herr  Can- 
cellarius,  a new  wig!  You  cannot  deceive  me;  I 
know  every  wig  in  Griinewald ; I have  the  sov- 
ereign's eye.  What  are  these  papers  about?  O, 
I see.  O,  certainly.  Surely,  surely.  I wager 
none  of  you  remarked  that  wig.  By  all  means. 
I know  nothing  about  that.  Dear  me,  are  there 
as  many  as  all  that?  Well,  you  can  sign  them; 
you  have  the  procuration.  You  see,  Herr  Can- 
cellarius,  I knew  your  wig.  And  so,”  concluded 
Gondremark,  resuming  his  own  voice,  “ our  sov- 
ereign, by  the  particular  grace  of  God,  enlightens 
and  supports  his  privy  councillors.” 

But  when  the  Baron  turned  to  Seraphina  for 
approval,  he  found  her  frozen.  “ You  are  pleased 
to  be  witty,  Herr  von  Gondremark,”  she  said, 
“ and  have  perhaps  forgotten  where  you  are.  But 
these  rehearsals  are  apt  to  be  misleading.  Your 
master,  the  Prince  of  Griinewald,  is  sometimes 
more  exacting.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  115 

Gondremark  cursed  her  in  his  soul.  Of  all  in- 
jured vanities,  that  of  the  reproved  buffoon  is  the 
most  savage;  and  when  grave  issues  are  involved, 
these  petty  stabs  become  unbearable.  But  Gondre- 
mark was  a man  of  iron;  he  showed  nothing;  he 
did  not  even,  like  the  common  trickster,  retreat 
because  he  had  presumed,  but  held  to  his  point 
bravely.  “ Madam,”  he  said,  “ if,  as  you  say,  he 
prove  exacting,  we  must  take  the  bull  by  the 
horns.” 

“ We  shall  see,”  she  said,  and  she  arranged  her 
skirt  like  one  about  to  rise.  Temper,  scorn,  dis- 
gust, all  the  more  acrid  feelings,  became  her  like 
jewels;  and  she  now  looked  her  best. 

“ Pray  God  they  quarrel,”  thought  Gondre- 
mark. “ The  damned  minx  may  fail  me  yet,  un- 
less they  quarrel.  It  is  time  to  let  him  in.  Zz  — 
fight,  dogs!”  Consequent  on  these  reflections,  he 
bent  a stiff  knee  and  chivalrously  kissed  the 
Princess's  hand.  “ My  Princess,”  he  said,  “ must 
now  dismiss  her  servant.  I have  much  to  arrange 
against  the  hour  of  council.” 

“ Go,”  she  said,  and  rose. 

And  as  Gondremark  tripped  out  of  a private 
door,  she  touched  a bell,  and  gave  the  order  to 
admit  the  Prince. 


CHAPTER  VI 


THE  PRINCE  DELIVERS  A LECTURE  ON 
MARRIAGE,  WITH  PRACTICAL  ILLUSTRA- 
TIONS OF  DIVORCE 

WITH  what  a world  of  excellent  inten- 
tions Otto  entered  his  wife’s  cabinet! 
how  fatherly,  how  tender ! how  morally 
affecting  were  the  words  he  had  prepared!  Nor 
was  Seraphina  unamiably  inclined.  Her  usual  fear 
of  Otto  as  a marplot  in  her  great  designs  was  now 
swallowed  up  in  a passing  distrust  of  the  designs 
themselves.  For  Gondremark,  besides,  she  had 
conceived  an  angry  horror.  In  her  heart  she  did 
not  like  the  Baron.  Behind  his  impudent  servility, 
behind  the  devotion  which,  with  indelicate  delicacy, 

/ 

he  still  forced  on  her  attention,  she  divined  the 
grossness  of  his  nature.  So  a man  may  be  proud 
of  having  tamed  a bear,  and  yet  sicken  at  his  cap- 
tive’s odour.  And  above  all,  she  had  certain  jeal- 
ous intimations  that  the  man  was  false,  and  the 
deception  double.  True,  she  falsely  trifled  with 
his  love;  but  he,  perhaps,  was  only  trifling  with 
her  vanity.  The  insolence  of  his  late  mimicry,  and 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“7 


the  odium  of  her  own  position  as  she  sat  and 
watched  it,  lay  besides  like  a load  upon  her  con- 
science. She  met  Otto  almost  with  a sense  of 
guilt,  and  yet  she  welcomed  him  as  a deliverer 
from  ugly  things. 

But  the  wheels  of  an  interview  are  at  the  mercy 
of  a thousand  ruts;  and  even  at  Otto's  entrance, 
the  first  jolt  occurred.  Gondremark,  he  saw,  was 
gone ; but  there  was  the  chair  drawn  close  for  con- 
sultation; and  it  pained  him  not  only  that  this 
man  had  been  received,  but  that  he  should  depart 
with  such  an  air  of  secrecy.  Struggling  with  this 
twinge,  it  was  somewhat  sharply  that  he  dismissed 
the  attendant  who  had  brought  him  in. 

“ You  make  yourself  at  home,  chez  moi ,”  she 
said,  a little  ruffled  both  by  his  tone  of  command 
and  by  the  glance  he  had  thrown  upon  the  chair. 

“ Madam/’  replied  Otto,  “ I am  here  so  seldom 
that  I have  almost  the  rights  of  a stranger.” 

“ You  choose  your  own  associates,  Frederic,” 
she  said. 

“ I am  here  to  speak  of  it,”  he  returned.  “ It 
is  now  four  years  since  we  were  married;  and 
these  four  years,  Seraphina,  have  not  perhaps  been 
happy  either  for  you  or  for  me.  I am  well  aware 
I was  unsuitable  to  be  your  husband.  I was  not 
young,  I had  no  ambition,  I was  a trifler;  and  you 
despised  me,  I dare  not  say  unjustly.  But  to  do 


1 18  PRINCE  OTTO 

justice  on  both  sides,  you  must  bear  in  mind  how 
I have  acted.  When  I found  it  amused  you  to 
play  the  part  of  Princess  on  this  little  stage,  did 
I not  immediately  resign  to  you  my  box  of  toys, 
this  Griinewald?  And  when  I found  I was  dis- 
tasteful as  a husband,  could  any  husband  have  been 
less  intrusive?  You  will  tell  me  that  I have  no 
feelings,  no  preference,  and  thus  no  credit;  that 
I go  before  the  wind ; that  all  this  was  in  my 
character.  And  indeed,  one  thing  is  true,  that 
it  is  easy,  too  easy,  to  leave  things  undone.  But, 
Seraphina,  I begin  to  learn  it  is  not  always  wise. 
If  I were  too  old  and  too  uncongenial  for  your 
husband,  I should  still  have  remembered  that  I 
was  the  Prince  of  that  country  to  which  you 
came,  a visitor  and  a child.  In  that  relation  also 
there  were  duties,  and  these  duties  I have  not 
performed.  ” 

To  claim  the  advantage  of  superior  age  is  to 
give  sure  offence.  “Duty!”  laughed  Seraphina, 
“ and  on  your  lips,  Frederic ! You  make  me  laugh. 
What  fancy  is  this?  Go,  flirt  with  the  maids  and 
be  a Prince  in  Dresden  China,  as  you  look.  Enjoy 
yourself,  mon  enfant , and  leave  duty  and  the  state 
to  us.” 

The  plural  grated  on  the  Prince.  “ I have  en- 
joyed myself  too  much,”  he  said,  “ since  enjoy- 
ment is  the  word.  And  yet  there  were  much  to 


PRINCE  OTTO 


119 

say  upon  the  other  side.  You  must  suppose  me 
desperately  fond  of  hunting.  But  indeed  there 
were  days  when  I found  a great  deal  of  interest 
in  what  it  was  courtesy  to  call  my  government. 
And  I have  always  had  some  claim  to  taste;  I 
could  tell  live  happiness  from  dull  routine;  and 
between  hunting,  and  the  throne  of  Austria,  and 
your  society,  my  choice  had  never  wavered,  had 
the  choice  been  mine.  You  were  a girl,  a bud, 

when  you  were  given  me  ” 

“ Heavens ! ” she  cried,  “ is  this  to  be  a love 
scene?  ” 

“ I am  never  ridiculous/’  he  said ; “ it  is  my 
only  merit;  and  you  may  be  certain  this  shall  be 
a scene  of  marriage  a la  mode . But  when  I re- 
member the  beginning,  it  is  bare  courtesy  to  speak 
in  sorrow.  Be  just,  madam  : you  would  think  me 
strangely  uncivil  to  recall  these  days  without  the 
decency  of  a regret.  Be  yet  a little  juster,  and 
own,  if  only  in  complaisance,  that  you  yourself 
regret  that  past.” 

“ I have  nothing  to  regret,”  said  the  Princess. 
“ You  surprise  me.  I thought  you  were  so  happy.” 
“ Happy  and  happy,  there  are  so  many  hundred 
ways,”  said  Otto.  “ A man  may  be  happy  in  re- 
volt; he  may  be  happy  in  sleep;  wine,  change, 
and  travel  make  him  happy;  virtue,  they  say,  will 
do  the  like  — I have  not  tried ; and  they  say  also 


120 


PRINCE  OTTO 


that  in  old,  quiet,  and  habitual  marriages  there  is 
yet  another  happiness.  Happy,  yes ; I am  happy 
if  you  like ; but  I will  tell  you  frankly,  I was 
happier  when  I brought  you  home.” 

“ Well,”  said  the  Princess,  not  without  con- 
straint, “ it  seems  you  changed  your  mind.” 

“ Not  I,”  returned  Otto,  “ I never  changed.  Do 
you  remember,  Seraphina,  on  our  way  home,  when 
you  saw  the  roses  in  the  lane,  and  I got  out  and 
plucked  them  ? It  was  a narrow  lane  between  great 
trees ; the  sunset  at  the  end  was  all  gold,  and  the 
rooks  were  flying  overhead.  There  were  nine,  nine 
red  roses;  you  gave  me  a kiss  for  each,  and  I told 
myself  that  every  rose  and  every  kiss  should  stand 
for  a year  of  love.  Well,  in  eighteen  months  there 
was  an  end.  But  do  you  fancy,  Seraphina,  that 
my  heart  has  altered  ? ” 

“ I am  sure  I cannot  tell,”  she  said,  like  an 
automaton. 

“ It  has  not,”  the  Prince  continued.  “ There  is 
nothing  ridiculous,  even  from  a husband,  in  a love 
that  owns  itself  unhappy  and  that  asks  no  more. 
I built  on  sand ; pardon  me,  I do  not  breathe  a 
reproach  — I built,  I suppose,  upon  my  own  in- 
firmities; but  I put  my  heart  in  the  building,  and 
it  still  lies  among  the  ruins.” 

“ How  very  poetical ! ” she  said  with  a little 
choking  laugh,  unknown  relentings,  unfamiliar 


PRINCE  OTTO 


I 2 I 


softnesses,  moving  within  her.  “ What  would  you 
be  at?”  she  added,  hardening  her  voice. 

“ I would  be  at  this,”  he  answered ; “ and  hard 
it  is  to  say.  I would  be  at  this:  Seraphina,  I am 
your  husband  after  all,  and  a poor  fool  that  loves 
you.  Understand,”  he  cried  almost  fiercely,  “ I 
am  no  suppliant  husband ; what  your  love  refuses 
I would  scorn  to  receive  from  your  pity.  I do 
not  ask,  I would  not  take  it.  And  for  jealousy, 
what  ground  have  I?  A dog-in-the-manger  jeal- 
ousy is  a thing  the  dogs  may  laugh  at.  But  at 
least,  in  the  world's  eye,  I am  still  your  husband; 
and  I ask  you  if  you  treat  me  fairly?  I keep  to 
myself,  I leave  you  free,  I have  given  you  in 
everything  your  will.  What  do  you  in  return? 
I find,  Seraphina,  that  you  have  been  too  thought- 
less. But  between  persons  such  as  we,  in  our  con- 
spicuous station,  particular  care  and  a particular 
courtesy  are  owing.  Scandal  is  perhaps  not  easy 
to  avoid;  but  it  is  hard  to  bear.” 

“ Scandal ! ” she  cried,  with  a deep  breath. 
“ Scandal ! It  is  for  this  you  have  been  driving ! ” 
“ I have  tried  to  tell  you  how  I feel,”  he  replied. 
“ I have  told  you  that  I love  you  — love  you  in 
vain  — a bitter  thing  for  a husband ; I have  laid 
myself  open  that  I might  speak  without  offence. 
And  now  that  I have  begun,  I will  go  on  and 
finish.” 


122 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ I demand  it,”  she  said.  “ What  is  this 
about?  ” 

Otto  flushed  crimson.  “ I have  to  say  what  I 
would  fain  not/’  he  answered.  “ I counsel  you  to 
see  less  of  Gondremark.” 

“ Of  Gondremark?  And  why?”  she  asked. 

“ Your  intimacy  is  the  ground  of  scandal, 
madam, ” said  Otto,  firmly  enough  — “ of  a scan- 
dal that  is  agony  to  me,  and  would  be  crushing  to 
your  parents  if  they  knew  it.” 

“ You  are  the  first  to  bring  me  word  of  it,”  said 
she.  “ I thank  you.” 

“ You  have  perhaps  cause,”  he  replied.  “ Per- 
haps I am  the  only  one  among  your  friends ” 

“ O,  leave  my  friends  alone,”  she  interrupted. 
“ My  friends  are  of  a different  stamp.  You  have 
come  to  me  here  and  made  a parade  of  sentiment. 
When  have  I last  seen  you  ? I have  governed  your 
kingdom  for  you  in  the  meanwhile,  and  there  I got 
no  help.  At  last,  when  I am  weary  with  a man’s 
work,  when  you  are  weary  of  your  playthings,  you 
return  to  make  me  a scene  of  conjugal  reproaches 
— the  grocer  and  his  wife ! The  positions  are  too 
much  reversed;  and  you  should  understand,  at 
least,  that  I cannot  at  the  same  time  do  your 
work  of  government  and  behave  myself  like  a 
little  girl.  Scandal  is  the  atmosphere  in  which 
we  live,  we  princes;  it  is  what  a prince  should 


PRINCE  OTTO 


123 

know.  You  play  an  odious  part.  Do  you  believe 
this  rumour?  ” 

44  Madam,  should  I be  here?  ” said  Otto. 

“ It  is  what  I want  to  know ! ” she  cried,  the 
tempest  of  her  scorn  increasing.  44  Suppose  you 
did  — I say,  suppose  you  did  believe  it?” 

44 1 should  make  it  my  business  to  suppose  the 
contrary,”  he  answered. 

44 1 thought  so.  O,  you  are  made  of  baseness ! ” 
said  she. 

44  Madam,”  he  cried,  roused  at  last,  44  enough  of 
this.  You  wilfully  misunderstand  my  attitude;  you 
outwear  my  patience.  In  the  name  of  your  par- 
ents, in  my  own  name,  I summon  you  to  be  more 
circumspect.” 

44  Is  this  a request,  Monsieur  mon  mari?”  she 
demanded. 

44  Madam,  if  I chose,  I might  command,”  said 
Otto. 

44  You  might,  sir,  as  the  law  stands,  make  me  a 
prisoner,”  returned  Seraphina.  44  Short  of  that  you 
will  gain  nothing.” 

44  You  will  continue  as  before?  ” he  asked. 

44  Precisely  as  before,”  said  she.  44  As  soon  as 
this  comedy  is  over,  I shall  request  the  Freiherr 
von  Gondremark  to  visit  me.  Do  you  under- 
stand? ” she  added,  rising.  44  For  my  part,  I have 
done.” 


124 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ I will  then  ask  the  favour  of  your  hand, 
madam/’  said  Otto,  palpitating  in  every  pulse  with 
anger.  “ I have  to  request  that  you  will  visit  in 
my  society  another  part  of  my  poor  house.  And 
reassure  yourself  — it  will  not  take  long  — and 
it  is  the  last  obligation  that  you  shall  have  the 
chance  to  lay  me  under.” 

“ The  last?”  she  cried.  “ Most  joyfully!” 

She  offered  her  hand,  and  he  took  itf  on  each 
side  with  an  elaborate  affectation,  each  inwardly 
incandescent.  He  led  her  out  by  the  private  door, 
following  where  Gondremark  had  passed;  they 
threaded  a corridor  or  two,  little  frequented,  look- 
ing on  a court,  until  they  came  at  last  into  the 
Prince’s  suite.  The  first  room  was  an  armoury, 
hung  all  about  with  the  weapons  of  various  coun- 
tries, and  looking  forth  on  the  front  terrace. 

“ Have  you  brought  me  here  to  slay  me?”  she 
inquired. 

“ I have  brought  you,  madam,  only  to  pass  on,” 
replied  Otto. 

Next  they  came  to  a library,  where  an  old  cham- 
berlain sat  half  asleep.  He  rose  and  bowed  before 
the  princely  couple,  asking  for  orders. 

“ You  will  attend  us  here,”  said  Otto. 

The  next  stage  was  a gallery  of  pictures,  where 
Seraphina’s  portrait  hung  conspicuous,  dressed  for 
the  chase,  red  roses  in  her  hair,  as  Otto,  in  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


125 


first  months  of  marriage,  had  directed.  He  pointed 
to  it  without  a word;  she  raised  her  eyebrows  in 
silence ; and  they  passed  still  forward  into  a 
matted  corridor  where  four  doors  opened.  One 
led  to  Otto’s  bedroom;  one  was  the  private  door 
to  Seraphina’s.  And  here,  for  the  first  time,  Otto 
left  hei;  hand,  and  stepping  forward,  shot  the  bolt. 

“ It  is  long,  madam,”  said  he,  “ since  it  was 
bolted  on  the  other  side.” 

“ One  was  effectual,”  returned  the  Princess. 
“ Is  this  all?” 

“ Shall  I reconduct  you?  ” he  asked,  bowing. 

“ I should  prefer,”  she  asked,  in  ringing  tones, 
“ the  conduct  of  the  Freiherr  von  Gondremark.” 

Otto  summoned  the  chamberlain.  “ If  the  Frei- 
herr von  Gondremark  is  in  the  palace,”  he  said, 
“ bid  him  attend  the  Princess  here.”  And  when 
the  official  had  departed,  “ Can  I do  more  to  serve 
you,  madam?”  the  Prince  asked. 

“ Thank  you,  no.  I have  been  much  amused,” 
she  answered. 

“ I have  now,”  continued  Otto,  “ given  you  your 
liberty  complete.  This  has  been  for  you  a miser- 
able marriage.” 

“ Miserable!”  said  she. 

“ It  has  been  made  light  to  you ; it  shall  be 
lighter  still,”  continued  the  Prince.  “ But  one 
thing,  madam,  you  must  still  continue  to  bear  — 


126 


PRINCE  OTTO 


my  father's  name,  which  is  now  yours.  I leave 
it  in  your  hands.  Let  me  see  you,  since  you  will 
have  no  advice  of  mine,  apply  the  more  attention 
of  your  own  to  bear  it  worthily." 

“ Herr  von  Gondremark  is  long  in  coming,"  she 
remarked. 

“ O Seraphina,  Seraphina ! " he  cried.  And  that 
was  the  end  of  their  interview. 

She  tripped  to  a window  and  looked  out;  and 
a little  after,  the  chamberlain  announced  the  Frei- 
herr von  Gondremark,  who  entered  with  some- 
thing of  a wild  eye  and  changed  complexion, 
confounded,  as  he  was,  at  this  unusual  summons. 
The  Princess  faced  round  from  the  window  with 
a pearly  smile ; nothing  but  her  heightened  colour 
spoke  of  discomposure.  Otto  was  pale,  but  he 
was  otherwise  master  of  himself. 

“ Herr  von  Gondremark,"  said  he,  “ oblige  me 
so  far:  reconduct  the  Princess  to  her  own  apart- 
ment." 

The  Baron,  still  at  sea,  offered  his  hand,  which 
was  smilingly  accepted,  and  the  pair  sailed  forth 
through  the  picture-gallery. 

As  soon  as  they  were  gone,  and  Otto  knew  the 
length  and  breadth  of  his  miscarriage,  and  how  he 
had  done  the  contrary  of  all  that  he  intended,  he 
stood  stupefied.  A fiasco  so  complete  and  sweep- 
ing was  laughable,  even  to  himself ; and  he  laughed 


PRINCE  OTTO 


127 


aloud  in  his  wrath.  Upon  this  mood  there  fol- 
lowed the  sharpest  violence  of  remorse;  and  to 
that  again,  as  he  recalled  his  provocation,  anger 
succeeded  afresh.  So  he  was  tossed  in  spirit ; now 
bewailing  his  inconsequence  and  lack  of  temper, 
now  flaming  up  in  white  hot  indignation  and  a 
noble  pity  for  himself. 

He  paced  his  apartment  like  a leopard.  There 
was  danger  in  Otto,  for  a flash.  Like  a pistol, 
he  could  kill  at  one  moment,  and  the  next  he 
might  be  kicked  aside.  But  just  then,  as  he  walked 
the  long  floors  in  his  alternate  humours,  tearing 
his  handkerchief  between  his  hands,  he  was  strung 
to  his  top  note,  every  nerve  attent.  The  pistol, 
you  might  say,  was  charged.  And  when  jealousy 
from  time  to  time  fetched  him  a lash  across  the 
tenderest  of  his  feeling,  and  sent  a string  of  her 
fire-pictures  glancing  before  his  mind’s  eye,  the 
contraction  of  his  face  was  even  dangerous.  He 
disregarded  jealousy’s  inventions,  yet  they  stung. 
In  this  height  of  his  anger,  he  still  preserved  his 
faith  in  Seraphina’s  innocence ; but  the  thought  of 
her  possible  misconduct  was  the  bitterest  ingredient 
in  his  pot  of  sorrow. 

There  came  a knock  at  the  door,  and  the  cham- 
berlain brought  him  a note.  He  took  it  and 
ground  it  in  his  hand,  continuing  his  march,  con- 
tinuing his  bewildered  thoughts;  and  some  min- 


128 


PRINCE  OTTO 


utes  had  gone  by  before  the  circumstance  came 
clearly  to  his  mind.  Then  he  paused  and  opened 
it.  It  was  a pencil  scratch  from  Gotthold,  thus 
conceived : 

“ The  council  is  privately  summoned  at  once. 

“ G.  v.  H.” 

If  the  council  was  thus  called  before  the  hour, 
and  that  privately,  it  was  plain  they  feared  his 
interference.  Feared : here  was  a sweet  thought. 
Gotthold,  too  — Gotthold,  who  had  always  used 
and  regarded  him  as  a mere  pleasant  lad,  had  now 
been  at  the  pains  to  warn  him;  Gotthold  looked 
for  something  at  his  hands.  Well,  none  should  be 
disappointed ; the  Prince,  too  long  beshadowed  by 
the  uxorious  lover,  should  now  return  and  shine. 
He  summoned  his  valet,  repaired  the  disorder  of 
his  appearance  with  elaborate  care ; and  then, 
curled  and  scented  and  adorned,  Prince  Charming 
in  every  line,  but  with  a twitching  nostril,  he  set 
forth  unattended  for  the  council. 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  PRINCE  DISSOLVES  THE  COUNCIL 

IT  was  as  Gotthold  wrote.  The  liberation  of 
Sir  John,  Greisengesang’s  uneasy  narrative, 
last  of  all,  the  scene  between  Seraphina  and 
the  Prince,  had  decided  the  conspirators  to  take 
a step  of  bold  timidity.  There  had  been  a period 
of  bustle,  liveried  messengers  speeding  here  and 
there  with  notes ; and  at  half-past  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing, about  an  hour  before  its  usual  hour,  the  coun- 
cil of  Griinewald  sat  around  the  board. 

It  was  not  a large  body.  At  the  instance  of 
Gondremark,  it  had  undergone  a strict  purgation, 
and  was  now  composed  exclusively  of  tools.  Three 
secretaries  sat  at  a side  table.  Seraphina  took 
the  head;  on  her  right  was  the  Baron,  on  her  left 
Greisengesang ; below  these  Grafinski  the  treas- 
urer, Count  Eisenthal,  a couple  of  non-combatants, 
and,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  Gotthold.  He  had  been 
named  a privy  councillor  by  Otto,  merely  that  he 
might  profit  by  the  salary;  and  as  he  was  never 
known  to  attend  a meeting,  it  had  occurred  to 
nobody  to  cancel  his  appointment.  His  present 

VOL.  V.  — 9 


13° 


PRINCE  OTTO 


appearance  was  the  more  ominous,  coming  when 
it  did.  Gondremark  scowled  upon  him;  and  the 
non-combatant  on  his  right,  intercepting  this  black 
look,  edged  away  from  one  who  was  so  clearly 
out  of  favour. 

“ The  hour  presses,  your  Highness,”  said  the 
Baron;  “may  we  proceed  to  business?” 

“ At  once,”  replied  Seraphina. 

“ Your  Highness  will  pardon  me,”  said  Gott- 
hold ; “ but  you  are  still,  perhaps,  unacquainted 
with  the  fact  that  Prince  Otto  has  returned.” 

“ The  Prince  will  not  attend  the  council,”  re- 
plied Seraphina,  with  a momentary  blush.  “ The 
despatches,  Herr  Cancellarius  ? There  is  one  for 
Gerolstein  ? ” 

A secretary  brought  a paper. 

“ Here,  madam,”  said  Greisengesang.  “ Shall 
I read  it?” 

“ We  are  all  familiar  with  its  terms,”  replied 
Gondremark.  “Your  Highness  approves?” 

“ Unhesitatingly,”  said  Seraphina. 

“ It  may  then  be  held  as  read,”  concluded  the 
Baron.  “Will  your  Highness  sign?” 

The  Princess  did  so;  Gondremark,  Eisenthal, 
and  one  of  the  non-combatants  followed  suit;  and 
the  paper  was  then  passed  across  the  table  to  the 
librarian.  He  proceeded  leisurely  to  read. 

“ We  have  no  time  to  spare,  Herr  Doctor,” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


l31 

cried  the  Baron,  brutally.  “ If  you  do  not  choose 
to  sign  on  the  authority  of  your  sovereign,  pass 
it  on.  Or  you  may  leave  the  table,”  he  added, 
his  temper  ripping  out. 

“ I decline  your  invitation,  Herr  von  Gondre- 
mark;  and  my  sovereign,  as  I continue  to  observe 
with  regret,  is  still  absent  from  the  board,”  re- 
plied the  Doctor,  calmly;  and  he  resumed  the  pe- 
rusal of  the  paper,  the  rest  chafing  and  exchanging 
glances.  “ Madam  and  gentlemen,”  he  said,  at 
last,  “ what  I hold  in  my  hand  is  simply  a decla- 
ration of  war.” 

“ Simply,”  said  Seraphina,  flashing  defiance. 

“ The  sovereign  of  this  country  is  under  the 
same  roof  with  us,”  continued  Gotthold,  “ and  I 
insist  he  shall  be  summoned.  It  is  needless  to 
adduce  my  reasons;  you  are  all  ashamed  at  heart 
of  this  projected  treachery.” 

The  council  waved  like  a sea.  There  were  vari- 
ous outcries. 

“ You  insult  the  Princess,”  thundered  Gondre- 
mark. 

“ I maintain  my  protest,”  replied  Gotthold. 

At  the  height  of  this  confusion  the  door  was 
thrown  open ; an  usher  announced,  “ Gentlemen, 
the  Prince!”  and  Otto,  with  his  most  excellent 
bearing,  entered  the  apartment.  It  was  like  oil 
upon  the  troubled  waters ; every  one  settled 


I32 


PRINCE  OTTO 


instantly  into  his  place,  and  Greisengesang,  to 
give  himself  a countenance,  became  absorbed 
in  the  arrangement  of  his  papers;  but  in  their 
eagerness  to  dissemble,  one  and  all  neglected  to 
rise. 

“ Gentlemen/'  said  the  Prince,  pausing. 

They  all  got  to  their  feet  in  a moment;  and 
this  reproof  still  further  demoralised  the  weaker 
brethren. 

The  Prince  moved  slowly  towards  the  lower 
end  of  the  table  ; then  he  paused  again,  and,  fix- 
ing his  eye  on  Greisengesang,  “ How  comes  it, 
Herr  Cancellarius,"  he  asked,  “ that  I have  re- 
ceived no  notice  of  the  change  of  hour?" 

“ Your  Highness,"  replied  the  Chancellor,  “ her 
Highness  the  Princess  ..."  and  there  paused. 

“ I understood,"  said  Seraphina,  taking  him  up, 
“ that  you  did  not  purpose  to  be  present." 

Their  eyes  met  for  a second,  and  Seraphina’ s 
fell;  but  her  anger  only  burned  the  brighter  for 
that  private  shame. 

“ And  now,  gentlemen,"  said  Otto,  taking  his 
chair,  “ I pray  you  to  be  seated.  I have  been  ab- 
sent : there  are  doubtless  some  arrears ; but  ere 
we  proceed  to  business,  Herr  Grafinski,  you  will 
direct  four  thousand  crowns  to  be  sent  to  me  at 
once.  Make  a note,  if  you  please,"  he  added,  as 
the  treasurer  still  stared  in  wonder. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


133 

“ Four  thousand  crowns  ?”  asked  Seraphina. 
u Pray,  for  what?  ” 

“ Madam/’  returned  Otto,  smiling,  “ for  my 
own  purposes.” 

Gondremark  spurred  up  Grafinski  underneath 
the  table. 

“ If  your  Highness  will  indicate  the  destina- 
tion . . .”  began  the  puppet. 

“ You  are  not  here,  sir,  to  interrogate  your 
Prince,”  said  Otto. 

Grafinski  looked  for  help  to  his  commander ; 
and  Gondremark  came  to  his  aid,  in  suave  and 
measured  tones. 

“ Your  Highness  may  reasonably  be  surprised,” 
he  said ; “ and  Herr  Grafinski,  although  I am  con- 
vinced he  is  clear  of  the  intention  of  offending, 
would  have  perhaps  done  better  to  begin  with  an 
explanation.  The  resources  of  the  State  are  at 
the  present  moment  entirely  swallowed  up,  or, 
as  we  hope  to  prove,  wisely  invested.  In  a month 
from  now,  I do  not  question  we  shall  be  able  to 
meet  any  command  your  Highness  may  lay  upon 
us ; but  at  this  hour  I fear  that,  even  in  so  small  a 
matter,  he  must  prepare  himself  for  disappoint- 
ment. Our  zeal  is  no  less,  although  our  power  may 
be  inadequate.” 

“ How  much,  Herr  Grafinski,  have  we  in  the 
treasury?”  asked  Otto. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*34 

“ Your  Highness,”  protested  the  treasurer,  “ we 
have  immediate  need  of  every  crown.” 

“ I think,  sir,  you  evade  me,”  flashed  the  Prince ; 
and  then  turning  to  the  side  table,  “ Mr.  Secre- 
tary,” he  added,  “ bring  me,  if  you  please,  the 
treasury  docket.” 

Herr  Grafinski  became  deadly  pale;  the  chan- 
cellor, expecting  his  own  turn,  was  probably  en- 
gaged in  prayer;  Gondremark  was  watching  like 
a ponderous  cat.  Gotthold,  on  his  part,  looked 
on  with  wonder  at  his  cousin;  he  was  certainly 
showing  spirit,  but  what,  in  such  a time  of  gravity, 
was  all  this  talk  of  money?  and  why  should  he 
waste  his  strength  upon  a personal  issue? 

“ I find,”  said  Otto,  with  his  finger  on  the 
docket,  “ that  we  have  20,000  crowns  in  case.” 

“ That  is  exact,  your  Highness,”  replied  the 
Baron.  “ But  our  liabilities,  all  of  which  are  hap- 
pily not  liquid,  amount  to  a far  larger  sum ; and 
at  the  present  point  of  time,  it  would  be  morally 
impossible  to  divert  a single  florin.  Essentially, 
the  case  is  empty.  We  have,  already  presented, 
a large  note  for  material  of  war.” 

“Material  of  war?”  exclaimed  Otto,  with  an 
excellent  assumption  of  surprise.  “ But  if  my 
memory  serves  me  right,  we  settled  these  accounts 
in  January.” 

“ There  have  been  further  orders,”  the  Baron 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*35 


explained.  “ A new  park  of  artillery  has  been 
completed;  five  hundred  stand  of  arms,  seven  hun- 
dred baggage  mules  — the  details  are  in  a special 
memorandum.  Mr.  Secretary  Holtz,  the  memo- 
randum, if  you  please.” 

“ One  would  think,  gentlemen,  that  we  were 
going  to  war,”  said  Otto. 

“ We  are,”  said  Seraphina. 

“War!”  cried  the  Prince.  “And,  gentlemen, 
with  whom?  The  peace  of  Griinewald  has  en- 
dured for  centuries.  What  aggression,  what  in- 
sult, have  we  suffered?  ” 

“ Here,  your  Highness,”  said  Gotthold,  “ is  the 
ultimatum.  It  was  in  the  very  article  of  signature, 
when  your  Highness  so  opportunely  entered.” 
Otto  laid  the  paper  before  him;  as  he  read,  his 
fingers  played  tattoo  upon  the  table.  “ Was  it 
proposed,”  he  inquired,  “ to  send  this  paper  forth 
without  a knowledge  of  my  pleasure?  ” 

One  of  the  non-combatants,  eager  to  trim,  vol- 
unteered an  answer.  “ The  Herr  Doctor  von 
Hohenstockwitz  had  just  entered  his  dissent,”  he 
added. 

“ Give  me  the  rest  of  this  correspondence,”  said 
the  Prince.  It  was  handed  to  him,  and  he  read 
it  patiently  from  end  to  end,  while  the  councillors 
sat  foolishly  enough  looking  before  them  on  the 
table.  The  secretaries,  in  the  background,  were 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 36 

exchanging  glances  of  delight;  a row  at  the  coun- 
cil was  for  them  a rare  and  welcome  feature. 

“ Gentlemen/’  said  Otto,  when  he  had  finished, 
“ I have  read  with  pain.  This  claim  upon  Ober- 
miinsterol  is  palpably  unjust;  it  has  not  a tincture, 
not  a show,  of  justice.  There  is  not  in  all  this 
ground  enough  for  after-dinner  talk,  and  you  pro- 
pose to  force  it  as  a casus  belli.” 

“ Certainly,  your  Highness,”  returned  Gondre- 
mark,  too  wise  to  defend  the  indefensible,  “ the 
claim  on  Obermunsterol  is  simply  a pretext.” 

“ It  is  well,”  said  the  Prince.  “ Herr  Cancel- 
larius,  take  your  pen.  ‘ The  council/  ” he  began 
to  dictate  — “I  withhold  all  notice  of  my  inter- 
vention,” he  said,  in  parenthesis  and  addressing 
himself  more  directly  to  his  wife ; “ and  I say 
nothing  of  the  strange  suppression  by  which  this 
business  has  been  smuggled  past  my  knowledge. 
I am  content  to  be  in  time  — ‘ The  council/  ” 
he  resumed,  “ ‘ on  a further  examination  of  the 
facts,  and  enlightened  by  the  note  in  the  last  de- 
spatch from  Gerolstein,  have  the  pleasure  to  an- 
nounce that  they  are  entirely  at  one,  both  as  to 
fact  and  sentiment,  with  the  Grand  Ducal  Court  of 
Gerolstein/  You  have  it?  Upon  these  lines,  sir, 
you  will  draw  up  the  despatch.” 

“ If  your  Highness  will  allow  me,”  said  the 
Baron,  “your  Highness  is  so  imperfectly  acquainted 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*37 


with  the  internal  history  of  this  correspondence, 
that  any  interference  will  be  merely  hurtful.  Such 
a paper  as  your  Highness  proposes,  would  be  to 
stultify  the  whole  previous  policy  of  Griinewald.” 

“ The  policy  of  Griinewald ! ” cried  the  Prince. 
“ One  would  suppose  you  had  no  sense  of  humour ! 
Would  you  fish  in  a coffee  cup?  ” 

“ With  deference,  your  Highness/’  returned  the 
Baron,  “ even  in  a coffee  cup  there  may  be  poison. 
The  purpose  of  this  war  is  not  simply  territorial 
enlargement ; still  less  is  it  a war  of  glory ; for,  as 
your  Highness  indicates,  the  state  of  Griinewald  is 
too  small  to  be  ambitious.  But  the  body  politic  is 
seriously  diseased;  republicanism,  socialism,  many 
disintegrating  ideas  are  abroad ; circle  within 
circle,  a really  formidable  organisation  has  grown 
up  about  your  Highness’s  throne.” 

“ I have  heard  of  it,  Herr  von  Gondremark,” 
put  in  the  Prince ; “ but  I have  reason  to  be  aware 
that  yours  is  the  more  authoritative  information.” 
“ I am  honoured  by  this  expression  of  my 
Prince’s  confidence,”  returned  Gondremark,  un- 
abashed. “ It  is,  therefore,  with  a single  eye  to 
these  disorders,  that  our  present  external  policy 
has  been  shaped.  Something  was  required  to 
divert  public  attention,  to  employ  the  idle,  to 
popularise  your  Highness’s  rule,  and,  if  it  were 
possible,  to  enable  him  to  reduce  the  taxes  at  a 


PRINCE  OTTO 


138 

blow  and  to  a notable  amount.  The  proposed 
expedition  — for  it  cannot  without  hyperbole  be 
called  a war  — seemed  to  the  council  to  combine 
the  various  characters  required;  a marked  im- 
provement in  the  public  sentiment  has  followed 
even  upon  our  preparations;  and  I cannot  doubt 
that  when  success  shall  follow,  the  effect  will  sur- 
pass even  our  boldest  hopes.” 

“ You  are  very  adroit,  Herr  von  Gondremark,” 
said  Otto.  “ You  fill  me  with  admiration.  I had 
not  heretofore  done  justice  to  your  qualities.” 
Seraphina  looked  up  with  joy,  supposing  Otto 
conquered;  but  Gondremark  still  waited,  armed 
at  every  point;  he  knew  how  very  stubborn  is  the 
revolt  of  a weak  character. 

“ And  the  territorial  army  scheme,  to  which  I 
was  persuaded  to  consent  — was  it  secretly  directed 
to  the  same  end  ? ” the  Prince  asked. 

“ I still  believe  the  effect  to  have  been  good,” 
replied  the  Baron ; “ discipline  and  mounting  guard 
are  excellent  sedatives.  But  I will  avow  to  your 
Highness,  I was  unaware,  at  the  date  of  that 
decree,  of  the  magnitude  of  the  revolutionary 
movement;  nor  did  any  of  us,  I think,  imagine 
that  such  a territorial  army  was  a part  of  the 
republican  proposals.” 

“ It  was  ?”  asked  Otto.  “Strange!  Upon  what 
fancied  grounds  ? ” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


l39 


“ The  grounds  were  indeed  fanciful,”  returned 
the  Baron.  “ It  was  conceived  among  the  leaders 
that  a territorial  army,  drawn  from  and  returning 
to  the  people,  would,  in  the  event  of  any  popular 
uprising,  prove  lukewarm  or  unfaithful  to  the 
throne.” 

“ I see,”  said  the  Prince.  “ I begin  to  under- 
stand.” 

“ His  Highness  begins  to  understand?  ” repeated 
Gondremark,  with  the  sweetest  politeness.  “ May 
I beg  of  him  to  complete  the  phrase?  ” 

“ The  history  of  the  revolution,”  replied  Otto, 
drily.  “ And  now,”  he  added,  “ what  do  you 
conclude?  ” 

“ I conclude,  your  Highness,  with  a simple  re- 
flection,” said  the  Baron,  accepting  the  stab  without 
a quiver,  “ the  war  is  popular ; were  the  rumour 
contradicted  to-morrow,  a considerable  disappoint- 
ment would  be  felt  in  many  classes;  and  in  the 
present  tension  of  spirits,  the  most  lukewarm  senti- 
ment may  be  enough  to  precipitate  events.  There 
lies  the  danger.  The  revolution  hangs  imminent; 
we  sit,  at  this  council  board,  below  the  sword  of 
Damocles.” 

“ We  must  then  lay  our  heads  together,”  said 
the  Prince,  “ and  devise  some  honourable  means 
of  safety.” 

Up  to  this  moment,  since  the  first  note  of  oppo- 


1 4o  PRINCE  OTTO 

sition  fell  from  the  librarian,  Seraphina  had  uttered 
about  twenty  words.  With  a somewhat  height- 
ened colour,  her  eyes  generally  lowered,  her  foot 
sometimes  nervously  tapping  on  the  floor,  she  had 
kept  her  own  counsel  and  commanded  her  anger 
like  a hero.  But  at  this  stage  of  the  engagement 
she  lost  control  of  her  impatience. 

“ Means ! ” she  cried.  “ They  have  been  found 
and  prepared  before  you  knew  the  need  for  them. 
Sign  the  despatch,  and  let  us  be  done  with  this 
delay/’ 

“ Madam,  I said  ‘ honourable,’  ” returned  Otto, 
bowing.  “ This  war  is,  in  my  eyes,  and  by  Herr 
von  Gondremark’s  account,  an  inadmissible  expe- 
dient. If  we  have  misgoverned  here  in  Griinewald, 
are  the  people  of  Gerolstein  to  bleed  and  pay  for 
our  misdoings?  Never,  madam;  not  while  I live. 
But  I attach  so  much  importance  to  all  that  I have 
heard  to-day  for  the  first  time  — and  why  only 
to-day,  I do  not  even  stop  to  ask  — that  I am 
eager  to  find  some  plan  that  I can  follow  with 
credit  to  myself.” 

“ And  should  you  fail  ? ” she  asked. 

“ Should  I fail,  I will  then  meet  the  blow  half- 
way,” replied  the  Prince.  “ On  the  first  open  dis- 
content, I shall  convoke  the  States,  and,  when  it 
pleases  them  to  bid  me,  abdicate.” 

Seraphina  laughed  angrily.  “ This  is  the  man 


PRINCE  OTTO 


141 

for  whom  we  have  been  labouring !”  she  cried. 
“ We  tell  him  of  change;  he  will  devise  the  means, 
he  says;  and  his  device  is  abdication?  Sir,  have 
you  no  shame  to  come  here  at  the  eleventh  hour 
among  those  who  have  borne  the  heat  and  burthen 
of  the  day?  Do  you  not  wonder  at  yourself?  I, 
sir,  was  here  in  my  place,  striving  to  uphold  your 
dignity  alone.  I took  counsel  with  the  wisest  I 
could  find,  while  you  were  eating  and  hunting. 
I have  laid  my  plans  with  foresight;  they  were 
ripe  for  action ; and  then  — ” she  choked  — “ then 
you  return  — for  a forenoon  — to  ruin  all ! To- 
morrow, you  will  be  once  more  about  your  pleas- 
ures; you  will  give  us  leave  once  more  to  think 
and  work  for  you ; and  again  you  will  come  back, 
and  again  you  will  thwart  what  you  had  not  the 
industry  or  knowledge  to  conceive.  Oh ! it  is  intol- 
erable. Be  modest,  sir.  Do  not  presume  upon  the 
rank  you  cannot  worthily  uphold.  I would  not  is- 
sue my  commands  with  so  much  gusto  — it  is  from 
no  merit  in  yourself  they  are  obeyed.  What  are 
you  ? What  have  you  to  do  in  this  grave  council  ? 
Go,”  she  cried,  “ go  among  your  equals ! The  very 
people  in  the  streets  mock  at  you  for  a prince.” 

At  this  surprising  outburst  the  whole  council 
sat  aghast. 

“ Madam,”  said  the  Baron,  alarmed  out  of  his 
caution,  “ command  yourself.” 


I42 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Address  yourself  to  me,  sir!  ” cried  the  Prince. 
“ I will  not  bear  these  whisperings ! ” 

Seraphina  burst  into  tears. 

“ Sir,”  cried  the  Baron,  rising,  “ this  lady ” 

“ Herr  von  Gondremark,”  said  the  Prince,  “ one 
more  observation,  and  I place  you  under  arrest.” 
“ Your  Highness  is  the  master,”  replied  Gondre- 
mark, bowing. 

“ Bear  it  in  mind  more  constantly,”  said  Otto. 
“ Herr  Cancellarius,  bring  all  the  papers  to  my 
cabinet.  Gentlemen,  the  council  is  dissolved.” 
And  he  bowed  and  left  the  apartment,  followed 
by  Greisengesang  and  the  secretaries,  just  at  the 
moment  when  the  Princess’s  ladies,  summoned  in 
all  haste,  entered  by  another  door  to  help  her 
forth. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THE  PARTY  OF  WAR  TAKES  ACTION 


HALF  an  hour  after,  Gondremark  was  once 
more  closeted  with  Seraphina. 

“ Where  is  he  nowT  ? ” she  asked,  on 

his  arrival. 

“ Madam,  he  is  with  the  Chancellor,”  replied  the 
Baron.  “ Wonder  of  wonders,  he  is  at  work!  ” 

“ Ah,”  she  said,  “ he  was  born  to  torture  me ! 
Oh,  what  a fall,  what  a humiliation!  Such  a 
scheme  to  wreck  upon  so  small  a trifle!  But  now 
all  is  lost.” 

“ Madam,”  said  Gondremark,  “ nothing  is  lost. 
Something,  on  the  other  hand,  is  found.  You  have 
found  your  senses ; you  see  him  as  he  is  — see  him 
as  you  see  everything  where  your  too-good  heart 
is  not  in  question  — with  the  judicial,  with  the 
statesman’s  eye.  So  long  as  he  had  a right  to 
interfere,  the  empire  that  may  be  was  still  distant. 
I have  not  entered  on  this  course  without  the  plain 
foresight  of  its  dangers;  and  even  for  this  I was 
prepared.  But,  madam,  I knew  two  things : I 
knew  that  you  were  born  to  command,  that  I was 


144 


PRINCE  OTTO 


born  to  serve;  I knew  that  by  a rare  conjuncture, 
the  hand  had  found  the  tool;  and  from  the  first 
I was  confident,  as  I am  confident  to-day,  that  no 
hereditary  trifler  has  the  power  to  shatter  that 
alliance.” 

“ I,  born  to  command ! ” she  said.  “ Do  you 
forget  my  tears?  ” 

“ Madam,  they  were  the  tears  of  Alexander,” 
cried  the  Baron.  “ They  touched,  they  thrilled  me ; 
I forgot  myself  a moment  — even  I ! But  do  you 
suppose  that  I had  not  remarked,  that  I had  not 
admired,  your  previous  bearing?  your  great  self- 
command?  Ay,  that  was  princely!  ” He  paused. 
“ It  was  a thing  to  see.  I drank  confidence ! I 
tried  to  imitate  your  calm.  And  I was  well  in- 
spired ; in  my  heart,  I think  that  I was  well 
inspired;  that  any  man,  within  the  reach  of  argu- 
ment, had  been  convinced ! But  it  was  not  to  be ; 
nor,  madam,  do  I regret  the  failure.  Let  us  be 
open ; let  me  disclose  my  heart.  I have  loved  two 
things,  not  unworthily:  Griinewald  and  my  sov- 
ereign ! ” Here  he  kissed  her  hand.  “ Either  I 
must  resign  my  ministry,  leave  the  land  of  my 
adoption  and  the  queen  whom  I had  chosen  to 
obey  — or ” He  paused  again. 

“ Alas,  Herr  von  Gondremark,  there  is  no  ‘ or/  ” 
said  Seraphina. 

“'Nay,  madam,  give  me  time,”  he  replied. 


PRINCE  OTTO  145 

“When  first  I saw  you,  you  were  still  young; 
not  every  man  would  have  remarked  your  powers ; 
but  I had  not  been  twice  honoured  by  your  con- 
versation ere  I had  found  my  mistress.  I have, 
madam,  I believe,  some  genius ; and  I have  much 
ambition.  But  the  genius  is  of  the  serving  kind; 
and  to  offer  a career  to  my  ambition,  I had  to  find 
one  born  to  rule.  This  is  the  base  and  essence  of 
our  union ; each  had  need  of  the  other ; each  rec- 
ognised, master  and  servant,  lever  and  fulcrum,  the 
complement  of  his  endowment.  Marriages,  they 
say,  are  made  in  heaven : how  much  more  these 
pure,  laborious,  intellectual  fellowships,  born  to 
found  empires!  Nor  is  this  all.  We  found  each 
other  ripe,  filled  with  great  ideas  that  took  shape 
and  clarified  with  every  word.  We  grew  together 
— ay,  madam,  in  mind  we  grew  together  like  twin 
children.  All  of  my  life  until  we  met  was  petty 
and  groping;  was  it  not  — I will  flatter  myself 
openly  — it  zvcts  the  same  with  you ! Not  till  then 
had  you  those  eagle  surveys,  that  wide  and  hope- 
ful sweep  of  intuition ! Thus  we  had  formed  our- 
selves, and  we  were  ready.” 

“ It  is  true,”  she  cried.  “ I feel  it.  Yours  is  the 
genius ; your  generosity  confounds  your  insight ; 
all  I could  offer  you  was  the  position,  was  this 
throne,  to  be  a fulcrum.  But  I offered  it  without 
reserve;  I entered  at  least  warmly  into  all  your 

VOL.  V.  — IO 


146  PRINCE  OTTO 

thoughts ; you  were  sure  of  me  — sure  of  my  sup- 
port — certain  of  justice.  Tell  me,  tell  me  again, 
that  I have  helped  you.” 

“ Nay,  madam,”  he  said,  “ you  made  me.  In 
everything  you  were  my  inspiration.  And  as  we 
prepared  our  policy,  weighing  every  step,  how 
often  have  I had  to  admire  your  perspicacity,  your 
man-like  diligence  and  fortitude!  You  know  that 
these  are  not  the  words  of  flattery;  your  con- 
science echoes  them ; have  you  spared  a day  ? have 
you  indulged  yourself  in  any  pleasure?  Young 
and  beautiful,  you  have  lived  a life  of  high  intel- 
lectual effort,  of  irksome  intellectual  patience  with 
details.  Well,  you  have  your  reward:  with  the 
fall  of  Brandenau,  the  throne  of  your  Empire  is 
founded.” 

“ What  thought  have  you  in  your  mind  ? ” she 
asked.  “Is  not  all  ruined?” 

“ Nay,  my  Princess,  the  same  thought  is  in  both 
our  minds,”  he  said. 

“ Herr  von  Gondremark,”  she  replied,  “ by  all 
that  I hold  sacred,  I have  none;  I do  not  think  at 
all ; I am  crushed.” 

“ You  are  looking  at  the  passionate  side  of  a 
rich  nature,  misunderstood  and  recently  insulted,” 
said  the  Baron.  “ Look  into  your  intellect,  and 
tell  me.” 

“ I find  nothing,  nothing  but  tumult,”  she  replied. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


H7 

“ You  find  one  word  branded,  madam/’  returned 
the  Baron : “ ‘ Abdication ! ’ 99 

“ O ! ” she  cried.  “ The  coward ! He  leaves  me 
to  bear  all,  and  in  the  hour  of  trial  he  stabs  me 
from  behind.  There  is  nothing  in  him,  not  respect, 
not  love,  not  courage  — his  wife,  his  dignity,  his 
throne,  the  honour  of  his  father,  he  forgets  them 
all!” 

“ Yes,”  pursued  the  Baron,  “ the  word  Abdica- 
tion. I perceive  a glimmering  there.” 

“ I read  your  fancy,”  she  returned.  “ It  is  mere 
madness,  midsummer  madness.  Baron,  I am  more 
unpopular  than  he.  You  know  it.  They  can  ex- 
cuse, they  can  love,  his  weakness;  but  me,  they 
hate.” 

“ Such  is  the  gratitude  of  peoples,”  said  the 
Baron.  “ But  we  trifle.  Here,  madam,  are  my 
plain  thoughts.  The  man  who  in  the  hour  of 
danger  speaks  of  abdication  is,  for  me,  a venom- 
ous animal.  I speak  with  the  bluntness  of  gravity, 
madam ; this  is  no  hour  for  mincing.  The  coward, 
in  a station  of  authority,  is  more  dangerous  than 
fire.  We  dwell  on  a volcano;  if  this  man  can  have 
his  way,  Griinewald  before  a week  will  have  been 
deluged  with  innocent  blood.  You  know  the  truth 
of  what  I say;  we  have  looked  unblenching  into 
this  ever-possible  catastrophe.  To  him  it  is  noth- 
ing: he  will  abdicate!  Abdicate,  just  God!  and 


148  PRINCE  OTTO 

this  unhappy  country  committed  to  his  charge,  and 
the  lives  of  men  and  the  honour  of  women  . . .” 
His  voice  appeared  to  fail  him;  in  an  instant  he 
had  conquered  his  emotion  and  resumed : “But  you, 
madam,  conceive  more  worthily  of  your  responsi- 
bilities. I am  with  you  in  the  thought ; and  in  the 
face  of  the  horrors  that  I see  impending,  I say, 
and  your  heart  repeats  it  — we  have  gone  too  far 
to  pause.  Honour,  duty,  ay,  and  the  care  of  our 
own  lives,  demand  we  should  proceed.” 

She  was  looking  at  him,  her  brow  thoughtfully 
knitted.  “ I feel  it,”  she  said.  “ But  how  ? He 
has  the  power.” 

“ The  power,  madam  ? The  power  is  in  the 
army,”  he  replied;  and  then  hastily,  ere  she  could 
intervene,  “ we  have  to  save  ourselves,”  he  went 
on ; “ I have  to  save  my  Princess,  she  has  to  save 
her  minister;  we  have  both  of  us  to  save  this 
infatuated  youth  from  his  own  madness.  He  in 
the  outbreak  would  be  the  earliest  victim ; I see 
him,”  he  cried,  “torn  in  pieces;  and  Griinewald, 
unhappy  Griinewald!  Nay,  madam,  you  who  have 
the  power  must  use  it;  it  lies  hard  upon  your 
conscience.” 

“ Show  me  how ! ” she  cried.  “ Suppose  I were 
to  place  him  under  some  constraint,  the  revolution 
would  break  upon  us  instantly.” 

The  Baron  feigned  defeat.  “ It  is  true,”  he  said. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


149 


“ You  see  more  clearly  than  I do.  Yet  there  should, 
there  must  be,  some  way.”  And  he  waited  for  his 
chance. 

“ No,”  she  said ; “ I told  you  from  the  first  there 
is  no  remedy.  Our  hopes  are  lost : lost  by  one 
miserable  trifler,  ignorant,  fretful,  fitful  — who 
will  have  disappeared  to-morrow,  who  knows?  to 
his  boorish  pleasures ! ” 

Any  peg  would  do  for  Gondremark.  “ The 
thing!”  he  cried,  striking  his  brow.  “Fool,  not 
to  have  thought  of  it!  Madam,  without  perhaps 
knowing  it,  you  have  solved  our  problem.” 

“ What  do  you  mean?  Speak!  ” she  said. 

He  appeared  to  collect  himself ; and  then,  with 
a smile,  “ The  Prince,”  he  said,  “ must  go  once 
more  a-hunting.” 

“ Ay,  if  he  would ! ” cried  she,  “ and  stay  there ! ” 

“ And  stay  there,”  echoed  the  Baron.  It  was  so 
significantly  said,  that  her  face  changed;  and  the 
schemer,  fearful  of  the  sinister  ambiguity  of  his 
expressions,  hastened  to  explain.  “ This  time  he 
shall  go  hunting  in  a carriage,  with  a good  escort 
of  our  foreign  lancers.  His  destination  shall  be 
the  Felsenburg;  it  is  healthy,  the  rock  is  high,  the 
windows  are  small  and  barred ; it  might  have  been 
built  on  purpose.  We  shall  entrust  the  captaincy 
to  the  Scotchman  Gordon;  he  at  least  will  have 
no  scruple.  Who  will  miss  the  sovereign?  He  is 


150 


PRINCE  OTTO 


gone  bunting;,  he  came  home  on  Tuesday,  on 
Thursday  he  returned ; all  is  usual  in  that.  Mean- 
while the  war  proceeds ; our  Prince  will  soon 
weary  of  his  solitude;  and  about  the  time  of  our 
triumph,  or,  if  he  prove  very  obstinate,  a little 
later,  he  shall  be  released  upon  a proper  under- 
standing, and  I see  him  once  more  directing  his 
theatricals.  ” 

Seraphina  sat  gloomy,  plunged  in  thought. 
“ Yes,”  she  said  suddenly,  “ and  the  despatch?  He 
is  now  writing  it.” 

“ It  cannot  pass  the  council  before  Friday,” 
replied  Gondremark ; “ and  as  for  any  private 

note,  the  messengers  are  all  at  my  disposal. 
They  are  picked  men,  madam.  I am  a person  of 
precaution.” 

“ It  would  appear  so,”  she  said,  with  a flash  of 
her  occasional  repugnance  to  the  man;  and  then 
after  a pause,  “ Herr  von  Gondremark,”  she  added, 
“ I recoil  from  this  extremity.” 

“ I share  your  Highness’s  repugnance,”  an- 
swered he.  “ But  what  would  you  have?  We 
are  defenceless,  else.” 

“ I see  it,  but  this  is  sudden.  It  is  a public 
crime,”  she  said,  nodding  at  him  with  a sort  of 
horror. 

“ Look  but  a little  deeper,”  he  returned,  “ and 
whose  is  the  crime?” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


I5I 

“ His ! ” she  cried.  “ His,  before  God ! And  I 
hold  him  liable.  But  still ” 

“ It  is  not  as  if  he  would  be  harmed/’  submitted 
Gondremark. 

“ I know  it,”  she  replied,  but  it  was  still 
unheartily. 

And  then,  as  brave  men  are  entitled,  by  pre- 
scriptive right  as  old  as  the  world’s  history,  to 
the  alliance  and  the  active  help  of  Fortune,  the 
punctual  goddess  stepped  down  from  the  machine. 
One  of  the  Princess’s  ladies  begged  to  enter;  a 
man,  it  appeared,  had  brought  a line  for  the  Frei- 
herr von  Gondremark.  It  proved  to  be  a pencil 
billet,  which  the  crafty  Greisengesang  had  found 
the  means  to  scribble  and  despatch  under  the  very 
guns  of  Otto;  and  the  daring  of  the  act  bore  tes- 
timony to  the  terror  of  the  actor.  For  Greisenge- 
sang had  but  one  influential  motive:  fear.  The 
note  ran  thus : 

“ At  the  first  council,  procuration  to  be  withdrawn. 

“ Corn.  Greis.” 

So,  after  three  years  of  exercise,  the  right  of 
signature  was  to  be  stript  from  Seraphina.  It  was 
more  than  an  insult ; it  was  a public  disgrace ; and 
she  did  not  pause  to  consider  how  she  had  earned 
it,  but  morally  bounded  under  the  attack  as  bounds 
the  wounded  tiger. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


lS2 

“ Enough,”  she  said ; “ I will  sign  the  order. 
When  shall  he  leave  ? ” 

“ It  will  take  me  twelve  hours  to  collect  my 
men,  and  it  had  best  be  done  at  night.  To-mor- 
row midnight,  if  you  please?”  answered  the 
Baron. 

“ Excellent,”  she  said.  “ My  door  is  always 
open  to  you,  Baron.  As  soon  as  the  order  is  pre- 
pared, bring  it  me  to  sign.” 

“ Madam,”  he  said,  “ alone  of  all  of  us  you  do 
not  risk  your  head  in  this  adventure.  For  that 
reason,  and  to  prevent  all  hesitation,  I venture 
to  propose  the  order  should  be  in  your  hand 
throughout.” 

“ You  are  right,”  she  replied. 

He  laid  a form  before  her,  and  she  wrote  the 
order  in  a clear  hand,  and  re-read  it.  Suddenly 
a cruel  smile  came  on  her  face.  “ I had  forgotten 
his  puppet,”  said  she.  “ They  will  keep  each  other 
company.”  And  she  interlined  and  initialed  the 
condemnation  of  Doctor  Gotthold. 

“ Your  Highness  has  more  memory  than  your 
servant,”  said  the  Baron;  and  then  he,  in  his 
turn,  carefully  perused  the  fateful  paper.  “Good!  ” 
said  he. 

“ You  will  appear  in  the  drawing-room,  Baron?” 
she  asked. 

“ I thought  it  better,”  said  he,  “ to  avoid  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


lS3 


possibility  of  a public  affront.  Anything  that 
shook  my  credit  might  hamper  us  in  the  imme- 
diate future.” 

“ You  are  right,”  she  said;  and  she  held  out  her 
hand  as  to  an  old  friend  and  equal. 


CHAPTER  IX 


THE  PRICE  OF  THE  RIVER  FARM  ; IN  WHICH 
VAINGLORY  GOES  BEFORE  A FALL 

THE  pistol  had  been  practically  fired. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  scene 
at  the  council  table  would  have  entirely 
exhausted  Otto’s  store  both  of  energy  and  anger; 
he  would  have  begun  to  examine  and  condemn  his 
conduct,  have  remembered  all  that  was  true,  for- 
gotten all  that  was  unjust  in  Seraphina’s  onslaught; 
and  by  half  an  hour  after,  would  have  fallen  into 
that  state  of  mind  in  which  a Catholic  flees  to  the 
confessional  and  a sot  takes  refuge  with  the  bottle. 
Two  matters  of  detail  preserved  his  spirits.  For, 
first,  he  had  still  an  infinity  of  business  to  trans- 
act ; and  to  transact  business,  for  a man  of  Otto’s 
neglectful  and  procrastinating  habits,  is  the  best 
anodyne  for  conscience.  All  afternoon  he  was  hard 
at  it  with  the  Chancellor,  reading,  dictating,  sign- 
ing, and  despatching  papers ; and  this  kept  him  in 
a glow  of  self-approval.  But,  secondly,  his  vanity 
was  still  alarmed ; he  had  failed  to  get  the  money ; 
to-morrow  before  noon  he  would  have  to  disap- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*55 


point  old  Killian;  and  in  the  eyes  of  that  family 
which  counted  him  so  little,  and  to  which  he  had 
sought  to  play  the  part  of  the  heroic  comforter, 
he  must  sink  lower  than  at  first.  To  a man  of 
Otto's  temper,  this  was  death.  He  could  not  ac- 
cept the  situation.  And  even  as  he  worked,  and 
worked  wisely  and  well,  over  the  hated  details  of 
his  principality,  he  was  secretly  maturing  a plan 
by  which  to  turn  the  situation.  It  was  a scheme 
as  pleasing  to  the  man  as  it  was  dishonourable  in 
the  prince;  in  which  his  frivolous  nature  found 
and  took  vengeance  for  the  gravity  and  burthen  of 
the  afternoon.  He  chuckled  as  he  thought  of  it : 
and  Greisengesang  heard  him  with  wonder,  and 
attributed  his  lively  spirits  to  the  skirmish  of  the 
morning. 

Led  by  this  idea,  the  antique  courtier  ventured 
to  compliment  his  sovereign  on  his  bearing.  It 
reminded  him,  he  said,  of  Otto's  father. 

“What?"  asked  the  Prince,  whose  thoughts  were 
miles  away. 

“ Your  Highness's  authority  at  the  board,"  ex- 
plained the  flatterer. 

“ O,  that!  O yes,"  returned  Otto;  but  for  all 
his  carelessness,  his  vanity  was  delicately  tickled, 
and  his  mind  returned  and  dwelt  approvingly  over 
the  details  of  his  victory.  “ I quelled  them  all," 
he  thought. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


156 

When  the  more  pressing  matters  had  been  dis- 
missed, it  was  already  late,  and  Otto  kept  the 
Chancellor  to  dinner,  and  was  entertained  with  a 
leash  of  ancient  histories  and  modern  compliments. 
The  Chancellor’s  career  had  been  based,  from  the 
first  off-put,  on  entire  subserviency ; he  had  crawled 
into  honours  and  employments;  and  his  mind  was 
prostitute.  The  instinct  of  the  creature  served  him 
well  with  Otto.  First,  he  let  fall  a sneering  word 
or  two  upon  the  female  intellect;  thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  a closer  engagement;  and  before  the 
third  course  he  was  artfully  dissecting  Seraphina’s 
character  to  her  approving  husband.  Of  course 
no  names  were  used;  and  of  course  the  identity 
of  that  abstract  or  ideal  man,  with  whom  she  was 
currently  contrasted,  remained  an  open  secret.  But 
this  stiff  old  gentleman  had  a wonderful  instinct 
for  evil,  thus  to  wind  his  way  into  man’s  citadel ; 
thus  to  harp  by  the  hour  on  the  virtues  of  his 
hearer  and  not  once  alarm  his  self-respect.  Otto 
was  all  roseate,  in  and  out,  with  flattery  and 
Tokay  and  an  approving  conscience.  He  saw  him- 
self in  the  most  attractive  colours.  If  even  Grei- 
sengesang,  he  thought,  could  thus  espy  the  loose 
stitches  in  Seraphina’s  character,  and  thus  disloy- 
ally impart  them  to  the  opposite  camp,  he,  the 
discarded  husband  — the  dispossessed  Prince  — 
could  scarce  have  erred  on  the  side  of  severity. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*57 

In  this  excellent  frame  he  bade  adieu  to  the  old 
gentleman,  whose  voice  had  proved  so  musical,  and 
set  forth  for  the  drawing-room.  Already  on  the 
stair,  he  was  seized  with  some  compunction;  but 
when  he  entered  the  great  gallery  and  beheld  his 
wife,  the  Chancellor’s  abstract  flatteries  fell  from 
him  like  rain,  and  he  re-awoke  to  the  poetic  facts 
of  life.  She  stood  a good  way  off  below  a shining 
lustre,  her  back  turned.  The  bend  of  her  waist 
overcame  him  with  a physical  weakness.  This  was 
the  girl-wife  who  had  lain  in  his  arms  and  whom 
he  had  sworn  to  cherish;  there  was  she,  who  was 
better  than  success. 

It  was  Seraphina  who  restored  him  from  the 
blow.  She  swam  forward  and  smiled  upon  her 
husband  with  a sweetness  that  was  insultingly 
artificial.  “ Frederic,”  she  lisped,  “ you  are  late.” 
It  was  a scene  of  high  comedy,  such  as  is  proper 
to  unhappy  marriages;  and  her  aplomb  disgusted 
him. 

There  was  no  etiquette  at  these  small  drawing- 
rooms. People  came  and  went  at  pleasure.  The 
window  embrasures  became  the  roost  of  happy 
couples;  at  the  great  chimney,  the  talkers  mostly 
congregated,  each  full-charged  with  scandal ; and 
down  at  the  farther  end  the  gamblers  gambled.  It 
was  towards  this  point  that  Otto  moved,  not  os- 
tentatiously, but  with  a gentle  insistence,  and  scat- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


158 

tering  attentions  as  he  went.  Once  abreast  of  the 
card-table,  he  placed  himself  opposite  to  Madame 
von  Rosen,  and,  as  soon  as  he  had  caught  her  eye, 
withdrew  to  the  embrasure  of  a window.  There 
she  had  speedily  joined  him. 

“ You  did  well  to  call  me,”  she  said,  a little 
wildly.  “ These  cards  will  be  my  ruin.” 

“ Leave  them,”  said  Otto. 

“I!”  she  cried,  and  laughed;  “they  are  my 
destiny.  My  only  chance  was  to  die  of  a con- 
sumption; now  I must  die  in  a garret.” 

“ You  are  bitter  to-night,”  said  Otto. 

“ I have  been  losing,”  she  replied.  “ You  do  not 
know  what  greed  is.” 

“ I have  come,  then,  in  an  evil  hour,”  said  he. 

“Ah,  you  wish  a favour!  ” she  cried,  brighten- 
ing beautifully. 

“ Madam,”  said  he,  “ I am  about  to  found  my 
party,  and  I come  to  you  for  a recruit.” 

“ Done,”  said  the  Countess.  “ I am  a man 
again.” 

“ I may  be  wrong,”  continued  Otto,  “ but  I be- 
lieve upon  my  heart  you  wish  me  no  ill.” 

“ I wish  you  so  well,”  she  said,  “ that  I dare 
not  tell  it  you.” 

“ Then  if  I ask  my  favour?  ” quoth  the  Prince. 

“ Ask  it,  mon  Prince”  she  answered.  “ What- 
ever it  is,  it  is  granted.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  159 

“ I wish  you,”  he  returned,  “ this  very  night  to 
make  the  farmer  of  our  talk.” 

“ Heaven  knows  your  meaning ! ” she  exclaimed. 
“ I know  not,  neither  care ; there  are  no  bounds  to 
my  desire  to  please  you.  Call  him  made.” 

“ I will  put  it  in  another  way,”  returned  Otto. 
“ Did  you  ever  steal  ? ” 

“ Often ! ” cried  the  Countess.  “ I have  broken 
all  the  ten  commandments ; and  if  there  were  more 
to-morrow  I should  not  sleep  till  I had  broken 
these.” 

“ This  is  a case  of  burglary : to  say  truth,  I 
thought  it  would  amuse  you,”  said  the  Prince. 

“ I have  no  practical  experience,”  she  replied, 
“ but  O ! the  good-will ! I have  broken  a work- 
box  in  my  time,  and  several  hearts,  my  own  in- 
cluded. Never  a house ! But  it  cannot  be  difficult ; 
sins  are  so  unromantically  easy!  What  are  we  to 
break  ? ” 

“ Madam,  we  are  to  break  the  treasury/'  said 
Otto ; and  he  sketched  to  her  briefly,  wittily,  with 
here  and  there  a touch  of  pathos,  the  story  of  his 
visit  to  the  farm,  of  his  promise  to  buy  it,  and  of 
the  refusal  with  which  his  demand  for  money  had 
been  met  that  morning  at  the  council ; concluding 
with  a few  practical  words  as  to  the  treasury  win- 
dows, and  the  helps  and  hindrances  of  the  proposed 
exploit. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


160 

“ They  refused  you  the  money,”  she  said,  when 
he  had  done.  “ And  you  accepted  the  refusal  ? 
Well ! ” 

“ They  gave  their  reasons,”  replied  Otto,  colour- 
ing. “They  were  not  such  as  I could  combat; 
and  I am  driven  to  dilapidate  the  funds  of  my 
own  country  by  a theft.  It  is  not  dignified;  but 
it  is  fun.” 

“Fun,”  she  said;  “yes.”  And  then  she  remained 
silently  plunged  in  thought  for  an  appreciable  time. 
“ How  much  do  you  require  ? ” she  asked  at  length. 

“ Three  thousand  crowns  will  do,”  he  answered, 
“ for  I have  still  some  money  of  my  own.” 

“ Excellent,”  she  said,  regaining  her  levity.  “ I 
am  your  true  accomplice.  And  where  are  we  to 
meet  ? ” 

“ You  know  the  Flying  Mercury,”  he  answered, 
“ in  the  Park  ? Three  pathways  intersect ; there 
they  have  made  a seat  and  raised  the  statue.  The 
spot  is  handy,  and  the  deity  congenial.” 

“ Child,”  she  said,  and  tapped  him  with  her  fan. 
“ But  do  you  know,  my  Prince,  you  are  an  egoist 
— your  handy  trysting-place  is  miles  from  me. 
You  must  give  me  ample  time;  I cannot,  I think, 
possibly  be  there  before  two.  But  as  the  bell  beats 
two,  your  helper  shall  arrive : welcome,  I trust. 
Stay  — do  you  bring  any  one?  ” she  added.  “ O, 
it  is  not  for  a chaperone  — I am  not  a prude ! ” 


PRINCE  OTTO  i6x 

“ I shall  bring  a groom  of  mine,”  said  Otto.  “ I 
caught  him  stealing  corn.” 

“ His  name?  ” she  asked. 

“ I profess  I know  not.  I am  not  yet  intimate 
with  my  corn-stealer/’  returned  the  Prince.  “ It 

was  in  a professional  capacity ” 

“ Like  me ! Flatterer ! ” she  cried.  “ But  oblige 
me  in  one  thing.  Let  me  find  you  waiting  at  the 
seat  — yes,  you  shall  await  me ; for  on  this  ex- 
pedition it  shall  be  no  longer  Prince  and  Countess, 
it  shall  be  the  lady  and  the  squire  — and  your 
friend  the  thief  shall  be  no  nearer  than  the  foun- 
tain. Do  you  promise  ?” 

“ Madam,  in  everything  you  are  to  command ; 
you  shall  be  captain,  I am  but  supercargo,”  an- 
swered Otto. 

“ Well,  Heaven  bring  all  safe  to  port!  ” she  said. 
“ It  is  not  Friday!  ” 

Something  in  her  manner  had  puzzled  Otto, 
had  possibly  touched  him  with  suspicion. 

“ Is  it  not  strange,”  he  remarked,  “ that  I should 
choose  my  accomplice  from  the  other  camp?  ” 

“ Fool ! ” she  said.  “ But  it  is  your  only  wisdom 
that  you  know  your  friends.”  And  suddenly,  in 
the  vantage  of  the  deep  window,  she  caught  up  his 
hand  and  kissed  it  with  a sort  of  passion.  “ Now, 
go,”  she  added,  “ go  at  once.” 

He  went,  somewhat  staggered,  doubting  in  his 


VOL.  V.  — II 


162 


PRINCE  OTTO 


heart  that  he  was  over-bold.  For  in  that  moment 
she  had  flashed  upon  him  like  a jewel;  and  even 
through  the  strong  panoply  of  a previous  love  he 
had  been  conscious  of  a shock.  Next  moment 
he  had  dismissed  the  fear. 

Both  Otto  and  the  Countess  retired  early  from 
the  drawing-room ; and  the  Prince,  after  an  elab- 
orate feint,  dismissed  his  valet  and  went  forth  by 
the  private  passage  and  the  back  postern  in  quest 
of  the  groom. 

Once  more  the  stable  was  in  darkness,  once 
more  Otto  employed  the  talismanic  knock,  and 
once  more  the  groom  appeared  and  sickened  with 
terror. 

“ Good-evening,  friend/’  said  Otto,  pleasantly. 
“ I want  you  to  bring  a corn  sack  — empty  this 
time  — and  to  accompany  me.  We  shall  be  gone 
all  night.” 

“ Your  Highness,”  groaned  the  man,  “ I have 
the  charge  of  the  small  stables.  I am  here  alone.” 

“ Come,”  said  the  Prince,  “ you  are  no  such 
martinet  in  duty.”  And  then  seeing  that  the  man 
was  shaking  from  head  to  foot,  Otto  laid  a hand 
upon  his  shoulder.  “ If  I meant  you  harm,”  he 
said,  “should  I be  here?” 

The  fellow  became  instantly  reassured.  He  got 
the  sack ; and  Otto  led  him  round  by  several  paths 
and  avenues,  conversing  pleasantly  by  the  way. 


PRINCE  OTTO  163 

and  left  him  at  last  planted  by  a certain  fountain 
where  a goggle-eyed  Triton  spouted  intermittently 
into  a rippling  laver.  Thence  he  proceeded  alone 
to  where,  in  a round  clearing,  a copy  of  Gian 
Bologna’s  Mercury  stood  tiptoe  in  the  twilight  of 
the  stars.  The  night  was  warm  and  windless.  A 
shaving  of  new  moon  had  lately  arisen ; but  it 
was  still  too  small  and  too  low  down  in  heaven 
to  contend  with  the  immense  host  of  lesser  lumi- 
naries ; and  the  rough  face  of  the  earth  was 
drenched  with  starlight.  Down  one  of  the  alleys, 
which  widened  as  it  receded,  he  could  see  a part 
of  the  lamplit  terrace  where  a sentry  silently  paced, 
and  beyond  that  a corner  of  the  town  with  inter- 
lacing street-lights.  But  all  around  him  the  young 
trees  stood  mystically  blurred  in  the  dim  shine; 
and  in  the  stock-still  quietness  the  up-leaping  god 
appeared  alive. 

In  this  dimness  and  silence  of  the  night,  Otto’s 
conscience  became  suddenly  and  staringly  luminous 
like  the  dial  of  a city  clock.  He  averted  the  eyes 
of  his  mind,  but  the  finger,  rapidly  travelling, 
pointed  to  a series  of  misdeeds  that  took  his  breath 
away.  What  was  he  doing  in  that  place?  The 
money  had  been  wrongly  squandered,  but  that  was 
largely  by  his  own  neglect.  And  he  now  proposed 
to  embarrass  the  finances  of  this  country  which  he 
had  been  too  idle  to  govern.  And  he  now  pro- 


164 


PRINCE  OTTO 


posed  to  squander  the  money  once  again,  and  this 
time  for  a private,  if  a generous  end.  And  the 
man  whom  he  had  reproved  for  stealing  corn,  he 
was  now  to  set  stealing  treasure.  And  then  there 
was  Madame  von  Rosen,  upon  whom  he  looked 
down  with  some  of  that  ill-favoured  contempt  of 
the  chaste  male  for  the  imperfect  woman.  Because 
he  thought  of  her  as  one  degraded  below  scruples, 
he  had  picked  her  out  to  be  still  more  degraded,  and 
to  risk  her  whole  irregular  establishment  in  life  by 
complicity  in  this  dishonourable  act.  It  was  uglier 
than  a seduction. 

Otto  had  to  walk  very  briskly  and  whistle  very 
busily;  and  when  at  last  he  heard  steps  in  the 
narrowest  and  darkest  of  the  alleys,  it  was  with 
a gush  of  relief  that  he  sprang  to  meet  the  Coun- 
tess. To  wrestle  alone  with  one’s  good  angel  is  so 
hard ! and  so  precious,  at  the  proper  time,  is  a com- 
panion certain  to  be  less  virtuous  than  oneself! 

It  was  a young  man  who  came  towards  him  — 
a young  man  of  small  stature  and  a peculiar  gait, 
wearing  a wide  flapping  hat,  and  carrying,  with 
great  weariness,  a heavy  bag.  Otto  recoiled ; but 
the  young  man  held  up  his  hand  by  way  of  signal, 
and  coming  up  with  a panting  run,  as  if  with  the 
last  of  his  endurance,  laid  the  bag  upon  the  ground, 
threw  himself  upon  the  bench,  and  disclosed  the 
features  of  Madame  von  Rosen. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


i65 


“ You,  Countess!  ” cried  the  Prince. 

“ No,  no/'  she  panted,  “ the  Count  von  Rosen 
— my  young  brother.  A capital  fellow.  Let  him 
get  his  breath.” 

“ Ah,  madam  . . .”  said  he. 

“ Call  me  Count,”  she  returned,  “ respect  my 
incognito.” 

“ Count  be  it,  then,”  he  replied.  “ And  let  me 
implore  that  gallant  gentleman  to  set  forth  at  once 
on  our  enterprise.” 

“ Sit  down  beside  me  here,”  she  returned,  pat- 
ting the  further  corner  of  the  bench.  “ I will 
follow  you  in  a moment.  O,  I am  so  tired  — feel 
how  my  heart  leaps ! Where  is  your  thief  ? ” 

“ At  his  post,”  replied  Otto.  “ Shall  I introduce 
him?  He  seems  an  excellent  companion.” 

“ No,”  she  said,  “ do  not  hurry  me  yet.  I must 
speak  to  you.  Not  but  I adore  your  thief;  I adore 
any  one  who  has  the  spirit  to  do  wrong.  I never 
cared  for  virtue  till  I fell  in  love  with  my  Prince.” 
She  laughed  musically.  “ And  even  so,  it  is  not 
for  your  virtues,”  she  added. 

Otto  was  embarrassed.  “ And  now,”  he  asked, 
“ if  you  are  anyway  rested?  ” 

“ Presently,  presently.  Let  me  breathe,”  she 
said,  panting  a little  harder  than  before. 

“ And  what  has  so  wearied  you?”  he  asked. 
“This  bag?  And  why,  in  the  name  of  eccen- 


1 66 


PRINCE  OTTO 


tricity,  a bag?  For  an  empty  one,  you  might 
have  relied  on  my  own  foresight;  and  this  one 
is  very  far  from  being  empty.  My  dear  Count, 
with  what  trash  have  you  come  laden?  But  the 
shortest  method  is  to  see  for  myself.”  And  he 
put  down  his  hand. 

She  stopped  him  at  once.  “ Otto,”  she  said, 
“ no  — not  that  way.  I will  tell,  I will  make  a 
clean  breast.  It  is  done  already.  I have  robbed 
the  treasury  single-handed.  There  are  three 
thousand  two  hundred  crowns.  O,  I trust  it  is 
enough ! ” 

Her  embarrassment  was  so  obvious  that  the 
Prince  was  struck  into  a muse,  gazing  in  her 
face,  with  his  hand  still  outstretched,  and  she  still 
holding  him  by  the  wrist.  “You!”  he  said,  at 
last.  “ How  ? ” And  then  drawing  himself  up, 
“ O madam,”  he  cried,  “ I understand.  You  must 
indeed  think  meanly  of  the  Prince.” 

“Well  then,  it  was  a lie!”  she  cried.  “The 
money  is  mine,  honestly  my  own  — now  yours. 
This  was  an  unworthy  act  that  you  proposed.  But 
I love  your  honour,  and  I swore  to  myself  that  I 
should  save  it  in  your  teeth.  I beg  of  you  to  let 
me  save  it  ” — with  a sudden  lovely  change  of 
tone.  “ Otto,  I beseech  you  let  me  save  it.  Take 
this  dross  from  your  poor  friend  who  loves 
you  ! ” 


PRINCE  OTTO  167 

“ Madam,  madam/'  babbled  Otto,  in  the  ex- 
treme of  misery,  “I  cannot  — I must  go.” 

And  he  half  rose;  but  she  was  on  the  ground 
before  him  in  an  instant,  clasping  his  knees.  “ No,” 
she  gasped,  “ you  shall  not  go.  Do  you  despise 
me  so  entirely  ? It  is  dross ; I hate  it ; I should 
squander  it  at  play  and  be  no  richer;  it  is  an  in- 
vestment; it  is  to  save  me  from  ruin.  Otto,”  she 
cried,  as  he  again  feebly  tried  to  put  her  from 
him,  “ if  you  leave  me  alone  in  this  disgrace,  I 
will  die  here!”  He  groaned  aloud.  “ O,”  she 
said,  “ think  what  I suffer!  If  you  suffer  from 
a piece  of  delicacy,  think  what  I suffer  in  my 
shame!  To  have  my  trash  refused!  You  would 
rather  steal,  you  think  of  me  so  basely!  You 
would  rather  tread  my  heart  in  pieces ! O,  un- 
kind! O my  Prince!  O Otto!  O pity  me!” 
She  was  still  clasping  him;  then  she  found  his 
hand  and  covered  it  with  kisses,  and  at  this  his 
head  began  to  turn.  “ O,”  she  cried  again,  “ I 
see  it ! O what  a horror ! It  is  because  I am  old, 
because  I am  no  longer  beautiful.”  And  she  burst 
into  a storm  of  sobs. 

This  was  the  coup  de  grace . Otto  had  now  to 
comfort  and  compose  her  as  he  could,  and  before 
many  words,  the  money  was  accepted.  Between 
the  woman  and  the  weak  man  such  was  the  inev- 
itable end.  Madame  von  Rosen  instantly  com- 


1 68 


PRINCE  OTTO 


posed  her  sobs.  She  thanked  him  with  a fluttering 
voice,  and  resumed  her  place  upon  the  bench  at 
the  far  end  from  Otto.  “ Now  you  see/’  she  said, 
“ why  I bade  you  keep  the  thief  at  distance,  and 
why  I came  alone.  How  I trembled  for  my 
treasure ! ” 

“ Madam/’  said  Otto,  with  a tearful  whimper 
in  his  voice,  “ spare  me!  You  are  too  good,  too 
noble!” 

“ I wonder  to  hear  you,”  she  returned.  “ You 
have  avoided  a great  folly.  You  will  be  able  to 
meet  your  good  old  peasant.  You  have  found  an 
excellent  investment  for  a friend’s  money.  You 
have  preferred  essential  kindness  to  an  empty 
scruple;  and  now  you  are  ashamed  of  it!  You 
have  made  your  friend  happy ; and  now  you 
mourn  as  the  dove ! Come,  cheer  up.  I know 
it  is  depressing  to  have  done  exactly  right;  but 
you  need  not  make  a practice  of  it.  Forgive  your- 
self this  virtue;  come  now,  look  me  in  the  face 
and  smile ! ” 

He  did  look  at  her.  When  a man  has  been 
embraced  by  a woman,  he  sees  her  in  a glamour; 
and  at  such  a time,  in  the  baffling  glimmer  of  the 
stars,  she  will  look  wildly  well.  The  hair  is  touched 
with  light ; the  eyes  are  constellations ; the  face 
sketched  in  shadows  — a sketch,  you  might  say, 
by  passion.  Otto  became  consoled  for  his  defeat; 


PRINCE  OTTO  169 

he  began  to  take. an  interest.  “ No,”  he  said,  “I 
am  no  ingrate.” 

“ You  promised  me  fun,”  she  returned,  with  a 
laugh.  “ I have  given  you  as  good.  We  have  had 
a stormy  scene.” 

He  laughed  in  his  turn,  and  the  sound  of  the 
laughter,  in  either  case,  was  hardly  reassuring. 

“ Come,  what  are  you  going  to  give  me  in 
exchange,”  she  continued,  “ for  my  excellent 
declamation  ? ” 

“ What  you  will,”  he  said. 

“ Whatever  I will?  Upon  your  honour?  Sup- 
pose I asked  the  crown  ? ” She  was  flashing  upon 
him,  beautiful  in  triumph. 

“ Upon  my  honour,”  he  replied. 

“ Shall  I ask  the  crown  ? ” she  continued.  “ Nay ; 
what  should  I do  with  it?  Griinewald  is  but  a 
petty  state;  my  ambition  swells  above  it.  I shall 
ask  — I find  I want  nothing,”  she  concluded.  “ I 
will  give  you  something  instead.  I will  give  you 
leave  to  kiss  me  — once.” 

Otto  drew  near,  and  she  put  up  her  face;  they 
were  both  smiling,  both  on  the  brink  of  laughter, 
all  was  so  innocent  and  playful;  and  the  Prince, 
when  their  lips  encountered,  was  dumbfounded  by 
the  sudden  convulsion  of  his  being.  Both  drew 
instantly  apart,  and  for  an  appreciable  time  sat 
tongue-tied.  Otto  was  indistinctly  conscious  of  a 


PRINCE  OTTO 


170 

peril  in  the  silence,  but  could  find  no  words  to 
utter.  Suddenly  the  Countess  seemed  to  awake. 

“ As  for  your  wife ” she  began  in  a clear 

and  steady  voice. 

The  word  recalled  Otto,  with  a shudder,  from 
his  trance.  “ I will  hear  nothing  against  my  wife,” 
he  cried  wildly;  and  then,  recovering  himself  and 
in  a kindlier  tone,  “ I will  tell  you  my  one  secret,” 
he  added.  “ I love  my  wife.” 

“ You  should  have  let  me  finish,”  she  returned, 
smiling.  “ Do  you  suppose  I did  not  mention  her 
on  purpose?  You  know  you  had  lost  your  head. 
Well,  so  had  I.  Come  now,  do  not  be  abashed 
by  words,”  she  added,  somewhat  sharply.  “ It  is 
the  one  thing  I despise.  If  you  are  not  a fool, 
you  will  see  that  I am  building  fortresses  about 
your  virtue.  And  at  any  rate,  I choose  that  you 
shall  understand  that  I am  not  dying  of  love  for 
you.  It  is  a very  smiling  business;  no  tragedy 
for  me!  And  now  here  is  what  I have  to  say 
about  your  wife:  She  is  not  and  she  never  has 
been  Gondremark’s  mistress.  Be  sure  he  would 
have  boasted  if  she  had.  Good-night!” 

And  in  a moment  she  was  gone  down  the  alley, 
and  Otto  was  alone  with  the  bag  of  money  and 
the  flying  god. 


CHAPTER  X 


GOTTHOLD’S  REVISED  OPINION ; AND  THE 
FALL  COMPLETED 

THE  Countess  left  poor  Otto  with  a caress 
and  buffet  simultaneously  administered. 
The  welcome  word  about  his  wife  and 
the  virtuous  ending  of  his  interview  should  doubt- 
less have  delighted  him.  But  for  all  that,  as  he 
shouldered  the  bag  of  money  and  set  forward  to 
rejoin  his  groom,  he  was  conscious  of  many  ach- 
ing sensibilities.  To  have  gone  wrong  and  to  have 
been  set  right,  makes  but  a double  trial  for  man's 
vanity.  The  discovery  of  his  own  weakness  and 
possible  unfaith  had  staggered  him  to  the  heart; 
and  to  hear,  in  the  same  hour,  of  his  wife's  fidelity 
from  one  who  loved  her  not,  increased  the  bitter- 
ness of  the  surprise. 

He  was  about  half-way  between  the  fountain  and 
the  Flying  Mercury  before  his  thoughts  began  to 
be  clear;  and  he  was  surprised  to  find  them  re- 
sentful. He  paused  in  a kind  of  temper,  and 
struck  with  his  hand  a little  shrub.  Thence  there 
arose  instantly  a cloud  of  awakened  sparrows, 


172 


PRINCE  OTTO 


which  as  instantly  dispersed  and  disappeared  into 
the  thicket.  He  looked  at  them  stupidly,  and  when 
they  were  gone  continued  staring  at  the  stars. 
“I  am  angry.  By  what  right?  By  none!”  he 
thought ; but  he  was  still  angry.  He  cursed 
Madame  von  Rosen  and  instantly  repented. 
Heavy  was  the  money  on  his  shoulders. 

When  he  reached  the  fountain,  he  did,  out  of 
ill  humour  and  parade,  an  unpardonable  act.  He 
gave  the  money  bodily  to  the  dishonest  groom. 
“ Keep  this  for  me,”  he  said,  “ until  I call  for  it 
to-morrow.  It  is  a great  sum,  and  by  that  you 
will  judge  that  I have  not  condemned  you.”  And 
he  strode  away  ruffling,  as  if  he  had  done  some- 
thing generous.  It  was  a desperate  stroke  to 
re-enter  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  into  his  self- 
esteem ; and,  like  all  such,  it  was  fruitless  in  the 
end.  He  got  to  bed  with  the  devil,  it  appeared: 
kicked  and  tumbled  till  the  gray  of  the  morning; 
and  then  fell  inopportunely  into  a leaden  slumber, 
and  awoke  to  find  it  ten.  To  miss  the  appoint- 
ment with  old  Killian  after  all,  had  been  too  tragic 
a miscarriage:  and  he  hurried  with  all  his  might, 
found  the  groom  (for  a wonder)  faithful  to  his 
trust,  and  arrived  only  a few  minutes  before  noon 
in  the  guest-chamber  of  the  Morning  Star.  Killian 
was  there  in  his  Sunday's  best  and  looking  very 
gaunt  and  rigid;  a lawyer  from  Brandenau  stood 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*73 


sentinel  over  his  outspread  papers ; and  the  groom 
and  the  landlord  of  the  inn  were  called  to  serve  as 
witnesses.  The  obvious  deference  of  that  great 
man,  the  innkeeper,  plainly  affected  the  old  farmer 
with  surprise;  but  it  was  not  until  Otto  had  taken 
the  pen  and  signed  that  the  truth  flashed  upon  him 
fully.  Then,  indeed,  he  was  beside  himself. 

“ His  Highness ! ” he  cried,  “ His  Highness ! ” 
and  repeated  the  exclamation  till  his  mind  had 
grappled  fairly  with  the  facts.  Then  he  turned 
to  the  witnesses.  “ Gentlemen, ” he  said,  “ you 
dwell  in  a country  highly  favoured  by  God;  for 
of  all  generous  gentlemen,  I will  say  it  on  my 
conscience,  this  one  is  the  king.  I am  an  old 
man,  and  I have  seen  good  and  bad,  and  the  year 
of  the  great  famine;  but  a more  excellent  gentle- 
man, no,  never.” 

“ We  know  that,”  cried  the  landlord,  “ we  know 
that  well  in  Grunewald.  If  we  saw  more  of  his 
Highness  we  should  be  the  better  pleased.” 

“ It  is  the  kindest  Prince,”  began  the  groom, 
and  suddenly  closed  his  mouth  upon  a sob,  so 
that  every  one  turned  to  gaze  upon  his  emotion. 
Otto  not  last;  Otto  struck  with  remorse,  to  see 
the  man  so  grateful. 

Then  it  was  the  lawyer’s  turn  to  pay  a compli- 
ment. “ I do  not  know  what  Providence  may  hold 
in  store,”  he  said,  “ but  this  day  should  be  a bright 


*74 


PRINCE  OTTO 


one  in  the  annals  of  your  reign.  The  shouts  of 
armies  could  not  be  more  eloquent  than  the  emo- 
tion on  these  honest  faces.”  And  the  Brandenau 
lawyer  bowed,  skipped,  stepped  back  and  took 
snuff,  with  the  air  of  a man  who  has  found  and 
seized  an  opportunity. 

“ Well,  young  gentleman/’  said  Killian,  “ if  you 
will  pardon  me  the  plainness  of  calling  you  a 
gentleman,  many  a good  day’s  work  you  have 
done,  I doubt  not,  but  never  a better,  or  one  that 
will  be  better  blessed;  and  whatever,  sir,  may  be 
your  happiness  and  triumph  in  that  high  sphere 
to  which  you  have  been  called,  it  will  be  none  the 
worse,  sir,  for  an  old  man’s  blessing!” 

The  scene  had  almost  assumed  the  proportions 
of  an  ovation ; and  when  the  Prince  escaped  he 
had  but  one  thought : to  go  wherever  he  was  most 
sure  of  praise.  His  conduct  at  the  board  of  coun- 
cil occurred  to  him  as  a fair  chapter;  and  this 
evoked  the  memory  of  Gotthold.  To  Gotthold  he 
would  go. 

Gotthold  was  in  the  library  as  usual,  and  laid 
down  his  pen,  a little  angrily,  on  Otto’s  entrance. 
“Well,”  he  said,  “here  you  are.” 

“ Well,”  returned  Otto,  “ we  made  a revolution, 
I believe.” 

“ It  is  what  I fear,”  returned  the  Doctor. 

“ How ? ” said  Otto.  “ Fear?  Fear  is  the  burnt 


PRINCE  OTTO 


l7S 


child.  I have  learned  my  strength  and  the  weak- 
ness of  the  others;  and  I now  mean  to  govern. ” 

Gotthold  said  nothing,  but  he  looked  down  and 
smoothed  his  chin. 

“ You  disapprove?”  cried  Otto.  “ You  are  a 
weathercock.” 

“ On  the  contrary,”  replied  the  Doctor.  “ My 
observation  has  confirmed  my  fears.  It  will  not 
do,  Otto,  not  do.” 

“ What  will  not  do?”  demanded  the  Prince, 
with  a sickening  stab  of  pain. 

“ None  of  it,”  answered  Gotthold.  “ You  are 
unfitted  for  a life  of  action ; you  lack  the  stamina, 
the  habit,  the  restraint,  the  patience.  Your  wife 
is  greatly  better,  vastly  better;  and  though  she  is 
in  bad  hands,  displays  a very  different  aptitude. 
She  is  a woman  of  affairs ; you  are  — dear  boy, 
you  are  yourself.  I bid  you  back  to  your  amuse- 
ments ; like  a smiling  dominie,  I give  you  holidays 
for  life.  Yes,”  he  continued,  “ there  is  a day  ap- 
pointed for  all  when  they  shall  turn  again  upon 
their  own  philosophy.  I had  grown  to  disbelieve 
impartially  in  all ; and  if  in  the  atlas  of  the 
sciences  there  were  two  charts  I disbelieved  in 
more  than  all  the  rest,  they  were  politics  and 
morals.  I had  a sneaking  kindness  for  your  vices ; 
as  they  were  negative,  they  flattered  my  philos- 
ophy; and  I called  them  almost  virtues.  Well, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


176 

Otto,  I was  wrong;  I have  forsworn  my  sceptical 
philosophy;  and  I perceive  your  faults  to  be  un- 
pardonable. You  are  unfit  to  be  a Prince,  unfit 
to  be  a husband.  And  I give  you  my  word,  I 
would  rather  see  a man  capably  doing  evil,  than 
blundering  about  good.” 

Otto  was  still  silent,  in  extreme  dudgeon. 

Presently  the  Doctor  resumed : “ I will  take  the 
smaller  matter  first : your  conduct  to  your  wife. 
You  went,  I hear,  and  had  an  explanation.  That 
may  have  been  right  or  wrong;  I know  not;  at 
least,  you  had  stirred  her  temper.  At  the  council 
she  insults  you ; well,  you  insult  her  back  — a man 
to  a woman,  a husband  to  his  wife,  in  public! 
Next  upon  the  back  of  this,  you  propose  — the 
story  runs  like  wildfire  — to  recall  the  power  of 
signature.  Can  she  ever  forgive  that?  a woman 
— a young  woman  — ambitious,  conscious  of  tal- 
ents beyond  yours?  Never,  Otto.  And  to  sum 
all,  at  such  a crisis  in  your  married  life,  you  get 
into  a window  corner  with  that  ogling  dame  Von 
Rosen.  I do  not  dream  that  there  was  any  harm ; 
but  I do  say  it  was  an  idle  disrespect  to  your  wife. 
Why,  man,  the  woman  is  not  decent.” 

“ Gotthold,”  said  Otto,  “ I will  hear  no  evil  of 
the  Countess.” 

“ You  will  certainly  hear  no  good  of  her,”  re- 
turned Gotthold;  “ and  if  you  wish  your  wife  to 


PRINCE  OTTO 


177 

be  the  pink  of  nicety,  you  should  clear  your  Court 
of  demi-reputations.” 

“ The  commonplace  injustice  of  a by-word,” 
Otto  cried.  “ The  partiality  of  sex.  She  is  a 
demi-rep;  what  then  is  Gondremark?  Were  she 
a man ” 

“ It  would  be  all  one,”  retorted  Gotthold, 
roughly.  “ When  I see  a man,  come  to  years 
of  wisdom,  who  speaks  in  double-meanings  and 
is  the  braggart  of  his  vices,  I spit  on  the  other 
side.  ‘ You,  my  friend/  say  I,  ‘ are  not  even  a 
gentleman.’  Well,  she ’s  not  even  a lady.” 

“ She  is  the  best  friend  I have,  and  I choose 
that  she  shall  be  respected,”  Otto  said. 

“ If  she  is  your  friend,  so  much  the  worse,” 
replied  the  Doctor.  “ It  will  not  stop  there.” 

“ Ah ! ” cried  Otto,  “ there  is  the  charity  of 
virtue!  All  evil  in  the  spotted  fruit.  But  I can 
tell  you,  sir,  that  you  do  Madame  von  Rosen 
prodigal  injustice.” 

“ You  can  tell  me!  ” said  the  Doctor,  shrewdly. 
“ Have  you  tried  ? have  you  been  riding  the 
marches?  ” 

The  blood  came  into  Otto’s  face. 

“ Ah ! ” cried  Gotthold,  “ look  at  your  wife  and 
blush ! There ’s  a wife  for  a man  to  marry  and 
then  lose ! She ’s  a carnation,  Otto.  The  soul  is 
in  her  eyes.” 


VOL.  v. — 12 


PRINCE  OTTO 


178 

“ You  have  changed  your  note  for  Seraphina, 
I perceive/’  said  Otto. 

“ Changed  it ! ” cried  the  Doctor,  with  a flush. 
“ Why,  when  was  it  different  ? But  I own  I ad- 
mired her  at  the  council.  When  she  sat  there 
silent,  tapping  with  her  foot,  I admired  her  as  I 
might  a hurricane.  Were  I one  of  those  who 
venture  upon  matrimony,  there  had  been  the  prize 
to  tempt  me ! She  invites,  as  Mexico  invited 
Cortez ; the  enterprise  is  hard,  the  natives  are 
unfriendly  — I believe  them  cruel  too  — but  the 
metropolis  is  paved  with  gold  and  the  breeze 
blows  out  of  paradise.  Yes,  I could  desire  to 
be  that  conqueror.  But  to  philander  with  Von 
Rosen ; never ! Senses  ? I discard  them ; what 
are  they  ? — pruritus ! Curiosity  ? Reach  me  my 
Anatomy ! ” 

“ To  whom  do  you  address  yourself?”  cried 
Otto.  “ Surely,  you,  of  all  men,  know  that  I love 
my  wife ! ” 

“ O,  love ! ” cried  Gotthold ; “ love  is  a great 
word;  it  is  in  all  the  dictionaries.  If  you  had 
loved,  she  would  have  paid  you  back.  What  does 
she  ask?  A little  ardour!” 

“ It  is  hard  to  love  for  two,”  replied  the  Prince. 

“ Hard  ? Why,  there  ’s  the  touchstone ! O,  I 
know  my  poets!  ” cried  the  Doctor.  “ We  are  but 
dust  and  fire,  too  arid  to  endure  life’s  scorching; 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 79 


and  love,  like  the  shadow  of  a great  rock,  should 
lend  shelter  and  refreshment,  not  to  the  lover  only, 
but  to  his  mistress  and  to  the  children  that  reward 
them;  and  their  very  friends  should  seek  repose 
in  the  fringes  of  that  peace.  Love  is  not  love  that 
cannot  build  a home.  And  you  call  it  love  to 
grudge  and  quarrel  and  pick  faults?  You  call  it 
love  to  thwart  her  to  her  face,  and  bandy  insults? 
Lover 

“ Gotthold,  you  are  unjust.  I was  then  fighting 
for  my  country/’  said  the  Prince. 

“ Ay,  and  there  ’s  the  worst  of  all,”  returned  the 
Doctor.  “ You  could  not  even  see  that  you  were 
wrong;  that  being  where  they  were,  retreat  was 
ruin.” 

“ Why,  you  supported  me!”  cried  Otto. 

“ I did.  I was  a fool  like  you,”  replied  Gott- 
hold. “ But  now  my  eyes  are  open.  If  you  go  on 
as  you  have  started,  disgrace  this  fellow  Gondre- 
mark,  and  publish  the  scandal  of  your  divided 
house,  there  will  befall  a most  abominable  thing  in 
Griinewald.  A revolution,  friend  — a revolution.” 

“ You  speak  strangely  for  a red,”  said  Otto. 

“ A red  republican,  but  not  a revolutionary,” 
returned  the  Doctor.  “ An  ugly  thing  is  a Griine- 
walder  drunk ! One  man  alone  can  save  the  coun- 
try from  this  pass,  and  that  is  the  double-dealer 
Gondremark,  with  whom  I conjure  you  to  make 


180  PRINCE  OTTO 

peace.  It  will  not  be  you;  it  never  can  be  you: 
— you,  who  can  do  nothing,  as  your  wife  said, 
but  trade  upon  your  station  — you,  who  spent  the 
hours  in  begging  money!  And  in  God’s  name, 
what  for  ? Why  money  ? What  mystery  of  idiocy 
was  this?” 

“ It  was  to  no  ill  end.  It  was  to  buy  a farm,” 
quoth  Otto,  sulkily. 

“ To  buy  a farm ! ” cried  Gotthold.  “ Buy  a 
farm ! ” 

“Well,  what  then?”  returned  Otto.  “I  have 
bought  it,  if  you  come  to  that.” 

Gotthold  fairly  bounded  on  his  seat.  “ And  how 
that  ? ” he  cried. 

“How?”  repeated  Otto,  startled. 

“ Ay,  verily,  how ! ” returned  the  Doctor.  “ How 
came  you  by  the  money  ? ” 

The  Prince’s  countenance  darkened.  “ That  is 
my  affair,”  said  he. 

“ You  see  you  are  ashamed,”  retorted  Gotthold. 
“ And  so  you  bought  a farm  in  the  hour  of  your 
country’s  need  — doubtless  to  be  ready  for  the 
abdication;  and  I put  it  that  you  stole  the  funds. 
There  are  not  three  ways  of  getting  money : there 
are  but  two:  to  earn  and  steal.  And  now,  when 
you  have  combined  Charles  the  Fifth  and  Long- 
fingered Tom,  you  come  to  me  to  fortify  your 
vanity ! But  I will  clear  my  mind  upon  this  mat- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 8 1 


ter:  until  I know  the  right  and  wrong  of  the 
transaction,  I put  my  hand  behind  my  back.  A 
man  may  be  the  pitifullest  prince,  he  must  be  a 
spotless  gentleman.” 

The  Prince  had  gotten  to  his  feet,  as  pale  as 
paper.  “ Gotthold/’  he  said,  “ you  drive  me  be- 
yond bounds.  Beware,  sir,  beware!” 

“ Do  you  threaten  me,  friend  Otto?”  asked 
the  Doctor,  grimly.  “ That  would  be  a strange 
conclusion.” 

“ When  have  you  ever  known  me  use  my  power 
in  any  private  animosity?”  cried  Otto.  “ To  any 
private  man,  your  words  were  an  unpardonable 
insult,  but  at  me  you  shoot  in  full  security,  and 
I must  turn  aside  to  compliment  you  on  your 
plainness.  I must  do  more  than  pardon,  I must 
admire,  because  you  have  faced  this  — this  for- 
midable monarch,  like  a Nathan  before  David. 
You  have  uprooted  an  old  kindness,  sir,  with  an 
unsparing  hand.  You  leave  me  very  bare.  My 
last  bond  is  broken;  and  though  I take  Heaven 
to  witness  that  I sought  to  do  the  right,  I have 
this  reward:  to  find  myself  alone.  You  say  I 
am  no  gentleman;  yet  the  sneers  have  been  upon 
your  side;  and  though  I can  very  well  perceive 
where  you  have  lodged  your  sympathies,  I will 
forbear  the  taunt.” 

“ Otto,  are  you  insane?”  cried  Gotthold,  leap- 


I 8 2 


PRINCE  OTTO 


in g lip.  “ Because  I ask  you  how  you  came  by 

certain  moneys,  and  because  you  refuse ” 

“ Herr  von  Hohenstockwitz,  I have  ceased  to 
invite  your  aid  in  my  affairs,”  said  Otto.  “ I have 
heard  all  that  I desire,  and  you  have  sufficiently 
trampled  on  my  vanity.  It  may  be  that  I cannot 
govern,  it  may  be  that  I cannot  love  — you  tell  me 
so  with  every  mark  of  honesty ; but  God  has 
granted  me  one  virtue,  and  I can  still  forgive.  I 
forgive  you;  even  in  this  hour  of  passion,  I can 
perceive  my  faults  and  your  excuses;  and  if  I 
desire  that  in  future  I may  be  spared  your  con- 
versation, it  is  not,  sir,  from  resentment  — not  re- 
sentment — but,  by  Heaven,  because  no  man  on 
earth  could  endure  to  be  so  rated.  You  have  the 
satisfaction  to  see  your  sovereign  weep;  and  that 
person  whom  you  have  so  often  taunted  with  his 
happiness  reduced  to  the  last  pitch  of  solitude  and 
misery.  No,  — I will  hear  nothing;  I claim  the 
last  word,  sir,  as  your  Prince;  and  that  last  word 
shall  be  — forgiveness.” 

And  with  that  Otto  was  gone  from  the  apart- 
ment, and  Doctor  Gotthold  was  left  alone  with 
the  most  conflicting  sentiments  of  sorrow,  remorse, 
and  merriment;  walking  to  and  fro  before  his 
table,  and  asking  himself,  with  hands  uplifted, 
which  of  the  pair  of  them  was  most  to  blame  for 
this  unhappy  rupture.  Presently,  he  took  from  a 


PRINCE  OTTO  183 

cupboard  a bottle  of  Rhine  wine  and  a goblet  of 
the  deep  Bohemian  ruby.  The  first  glass  a little 
warmed  and  comforted  his  bosom ; with  the  second 
he  began  to  look  down  upon  these  troubles  from 
a sunny  mountain ; yet  awhile,  and  filled  with 
this  false  comfort  and  contemplating  life  through- 
out a golden  medium,  he  owned  to  himself,  with 
a flush,  a smile,  and  a half-pleasurable  sigh,  that 
he  had  been  somewhat  over-plain  in  dealing  with 
his  cousin.  “ He  said  the  truth,  too ,”  added  the 
penitent  librarian,  “ for  in  my  monkish  fashion 
I adore  the  Princess. ” And  then,  with  a still 
deepening  flush  and  a certain  stealth,  although 
he  sat  all  alone  in  that  great  gallery,  he  toasted 
Seraphina  to  the  dregs. 


CHAPTER  XI 


PROVIDENCE  VON  ROSEN:  ACT  THE  FIRST: 
SHE  BEGUILES  THE  BARON 

a sufficiently  late  hour,  or,  to  be  more 


exact,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  Madame 


von  Rosen  issued  on  the  world.  She 


swept  down-stairs  and  out  across  the  garden,  a 
black  mantilla  thrown  over  her  head,  and  the  long 
train  of  her  black  velvet  dress  ruthlessly  sweep- 
ing in  the  dirt. 

At  the  other  end  of  that  long  garden,  and  back 
to  back  with  the  villa  of  the  Countess,  stood  the 
large  mansion  where  the  Prime  Minister  trans- 
acted his  affairs  and  pleasures.  This  distance, 
which  was  enough  for  decency  by  the  easy  canons 
of  Mittwalden,  the  Countess  swiftly  traversed, 
opened  a little  door  with  a key,  mounted  a flight 
of  stairs,  and  entered  unceremoniously  into  Gon- 
dremark’s  study.  It  was  a large  and  very  high 
apartment;  books  all  about  the  walls,  papers  on 
the  table,  papers  on  the  floor;  here  and  there  a 
picture,  somewhat  scant  of  drapery ; a great  fire 
glowing  and  flaming  in  the  blue  tiled  hearth;  and 


PRINCE  OTTO  185 

the  daylight  streaming  through  a cupola  above. 
In  the  midst  of  this  sat  the  great  Baron  Gondre- 
mark  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  his  business  for  that  day 
fairly  at  an  end,  and  the  hour  arrived  for  relaxa- 
tion. His  expression,  his  very  nature,  seemed  to 
have  undergone  a fundamental  change.  Gondre- 
mark  at  home  appeared  the  very  antipode  of 
Gondremark  on  duty.  He  had  an  air  of  massive 
jollity  that  well  became  him;  grossness  and  geni- 
ality sat  upon  his  features;  and  along  with  his 
manners,  he  had  laid  aside  his  sly  and  sinister 
expression.  He  lolled  there,  sunning  his  bulk  be- 
fore the  fire,  a noble  animal. 

“ Hey ! ” he  cried.  “ At  last ! ” 

The  Countess  stepped  into  the  room  in  silence, 
threw  herself  on  a chair,  and  crossed  her  legs. 
In  her  lace  and  velvet,  with  a good  display  of 
smooth  black  stocking  and  of  snowy  petticoat,  and 
with  the  refined  profile  of  her  face  and  slender 
plumpness  of  her  body,  she  showed  in  singular 
contrast  to  the  big,  black,  intellectual  satyr  by  the 
fire. 

“ How  often  do  you  send  for  me?”  she  cried. 
“ It  is  compromising.” 

Gondremark  laughed.  “ Speaking  of  that,”  said 
he,  “ what  in  the  devil’s  name  were  you  about? 
You  were  not  home  till  morning.” 

“ I was  giving  alms,”  she  said. 


1 86 


PRINCE  OTTO 


The  Baron  again  laughed  loud  and  long,  for  in 
his  shirt-sleeves  he  was  a very  mirthful  creature. 
“ It  is  fortunate  I am  not  jealous/’  he  remarked. 
“ But  you  know  my  way : pleasure  and  liberty  go 
hand  in  hand.  I believe  what  I believe;  it  is  not 
much,  but  I believe  it.  But  now,  to  business.  Have 
you  not  read  my  letter?” 

“ No,”  she  said;  “ my  head  ached.” 

“ Ah,  well ! then  I have  news  indeed ! ” cried 
Gondremark.  “ I was  mad  to  see  you  all  last  night 
and  all  this  morning:  for  yesterday  afternoon  I 
brought  my  long  business  to  a head;  the  ship  has 
come  home;  one  more  dead  lift,  and  I shall  cease 
to  fetch  and  carry  for  the  Princess  Ratafia.  Yes, 
’t  is  done.  I have  the  order  all  in  Ratafia’s  hand ; 
I carry  it  on  my  heart.  At  the  hour  of  twelve 
to-night,  Prince  Featherhead  is  to  be  taken  in  his 
bed  and,  like  the  bambino,  whipped  into  a chariot; 
and  by  next  morning  he  will  command  a most 
romantic  prospect  from  the  donjon  of  the  Felsen- 
burg.  Farewell,  Featherhead!  The  war  goes  on, 
the  girl  is  in  my  hand ; I have  long  been  indis- 
pensable, but  now  I shall  be  sole.  I have  long,”  he 
added  exultingly,  “ long  carried  this  intrigue  upon 
my  shoulders,  like  Samson  with  the  gates  of  Gaza ; 
now  I discharge  that  burthen.” 

She  had  sprung  to  her  feet  a little  paler.  “ Is 
this  true?”  she  cried. 


PRINCE  OTTO  187 

“ I tell  you  a fact/'  he  asseverated.  “ The  trick 
is  played.” 

“ I will  never  believe  it,”  she  said.  “ An  or- 
der? In  her  own  hand?  I will  never  believe  it, 
Heinrich.” 

“ I swear  to  you,”  said  he. 

“ O,  what  do  you  care  for  oaths  — or  I either  ? 
What  would  you  swear  by?  Wine,  women,  and 
song?  It  is  not  binding,”  she  said.  She  had  come 
quite  close  up  to  him  and  laid  her  hand  upon 
his  arm.  “ As  for  the  order  — no,  Heinrich, 
never!  I will  never  believe  it.  I will  die  ere  I 
believe  it.  You  have  some  secret  purpose  — what, 
I cannot  guess  — but  not  one  word  of  it  is 
true.” 

“ Shall  I show  it  you?”  he  asked. 

“ You  cannot,”  she  answered.  “ There  is  no 
such  thing.” 

“ Incorrigible  Sadducee!”  he  cried.  “Well,  I 
will  convert  you ; you  shall  see  the  order.”  He 
moved  to  a chair  where  he  had  thrown  his  coat, 
and  then  drawing  forth  and  holding  out  a paper, 
“ Read,”  said  he. 

She  took  it  greedily,  and  her  eye  flashed  as  she 
perused  it. 

“ Hey ! ” cried  the  Baron,  “ there  falls  a dynasty, 
and  it  was  I that  felled  it ; and  I and  you  inherit ! ” 
He  seemed  to  swell  in  stature  ; and  next  moment. 


1 88 


PRINCE  OTTO 


with  a laugh,  he  put  his  hand  forward.  “ Give 
me  the  dagger,”  said  he. 

But  she  whisked  the  paper  suddenly  behind  her 
back  and  faced  him,  lowering.  “ No,  no,”  she 
said.  “ You  and  I have  first  a point  to  settle.  Do 
you  suppose  me  blind?  She  could  never  have 
given  that  paper  but  to  one  man,  and  that  man  her 
lover.  Here  you  stand  — her  lover,  her  accomplice, 
her  master  — O,  I well  believe  it,  for  I know  your 
power.  But  what  am  I ? ” she  cried ; “ I,  whom 
you  deceive  ? ” 

“ Jealousy ! ” cried  Gondremark.  “ Anna,  I 
would  never  have  believed  it!  But  I declare  to 
you  by  all  that ’s  credible,  that  I am  not  her  lover. 
I might  be,  I suppose;  but  I never  yet  durst  risk 
the  declaration.  The  chit  is  so  unreal;  a mincing 
doll ; she  will  and  she  will  not ; there  is  no  counting 
on  her,  by  God ! And  hitherto  I have  had  my  own 
way  without,  and  keep  the  lover  in  reserve.  And 
I say,  Anna,”  he  added  with  severity,  “ you  must 
break  yourself  of  this  new  fit,  my  girl ; there  must 
be  no  combustion.  I keep  the  creature  under  the 
belief  that  I adore  her ; and  if  she  caught  a breath 
of  you  and  me,  she  is  such  a fool,  prude,  and  dog 
in  the  manger,  that  she  is  capable  of  spoiling  all.” 

“ All  very  fine,”  returned  the  lady.  “ With 
whom  do  you  pass  your  days?  and  which  am  I to 
believe,  your  words  or  your  actions?  ” 


PRINCE  OTTO  189 

“ Anna,  the  devil  take  you,  are  you  blind  ?” 
cried  Gondremark.  “ You  know  me.  Am  I likely 
to  care  for  such  a preciosa?  ’T  is  hard  that  we 
should  have  been  together  for  so  long,  and  you 
should  still  take  me  for  a troubadour.  But  if 
there  is  one  thing  that  I despise  and  deprecate,  it 
is  all  such  figures  in  Berlin  wool.  Give  me  a 
human  woman — = like  myself.  You  are  my  mate; 
you  were  made  for  me;  you  amuse  me  like  the 
play.  And  what  have  I to  gain  that  I should 
pretend  to  you?  If  I do  not  love  you,  what  use 
are  you  to  me?  Why,  none.  It  is  as  clear  as 
noonday.” 

“ Do  you  love  me,  Heinrich  ?”  she  asked,  lan- 
guishing. “ Do  you  truly?  ” 

“ I tell  you/'  he  cried,  “ I love  you  next  after 
myself.  I should  be  all  abroad  if  I had  lost  you.” 

“ Well,  then,”  said  she,  folding  up  the  paper 
and  putting  it  calmly  in  her  pocket,  “ I will  be- 
lieve you,  and  I join  the  plot.  Count  upon  me. 
At  midnight,  did  you  say?  It  is  Gordon,  I see, 
that  you  have  charged  with  it.  Excellent;  he  will 
stick  at  nothing.” 

Gondremark  watched  her  suspiciously.  “ Why 
do  you  take  the  paper?  ” he  demanded.  “ Give  it 
here.” 

“ No,”  she  returned;  “ I mean  to  keep  it.  It  is 
I who  must  prepare  the  stroke;  you  cannot  man- 


190 


PRINCE  OTTO 


age  it  without  me ; and  to  do  my  best  I must  possess 
the  paper.  Where  shall  I find  Gordon?  In  his 
rooms?”  She  spoke  with  a rather  feverish  self- 
possession. 

“ Anna,”  he  said  sternly,  the  black,  bilious  coun- 
tenance of  his  palace  role  taking  the  place  of 
the  more  open  favour  of  his  hours  at  home, 
“ I ask  you  for  that  paper.  Once,  twice,  and 
thrice.”  * 

“ Heinrich,”  she  returned,  looking  him  in  the 
face,  “ take  care.  I will  put  up  with  no  dictation.” 

Both  looked  dangerous ; and  the  silence  lasted  for 
a measurable  interval  of  time.  Then  she  made 
haste  to  have  the  first  word ; and  with  a laugh  that 
rang  clear  and  honest,  “ Do  not  be  a child,”  she 
said.  “ I wonder  at  you.  If  your  assurances  are 
true,  you  can  have  no  reason  to  mistrust  me,  nor  I 
to  play  you  false.  The  difficulty  is  to  get  the 
Prince  out  of  the  palace  without  scandal.  His 
valets  are  devoted;  his  chamberlain  a slave;  and 
yet  one  cry  might  ruin  all.” 

“ They  must  be  overpowered,”  he  said,  follow- 
ing her  to  the  new  ground,  “ and  disappear  along 
with  him.” 

“ And  your  whole  scheme  along  with  them ! ” 
she  cried.  “ He  does  not  take  his  servants  when 
he  goes  a-hunting;  a child  could  read  the  truth. 
No,  no;  the  plan  is  idiotic;  it  must  be  Ratafia’s. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


191 

But  hear  me.  You  know  the  Prince  worships 
me?” 

“ I know,”  he  said.  “ Poor  Featherhead,  I cross 
his  destiny ! ” 

“ Well  now,”  she  continued,  “ what  if  I bring 
him  alone  out  of  the  palace,  to  some  quiet  corner 
of  the  Park  — the  Flying  Mercury,  for  instance? 
Gordon  can  be  posted  in  the  thicket;  the  carriage 
wait  behind  the  temple;  not  a cry,  not  a scuffle, 
not  a footfall ; simply,  the  Prince  vanishes ! — 
What  do  you  say?  Am  I an  able  ally?  Are  my 
beaux  yeux  of  service  ? Ah,  Heinrich,  do  not  lose 
your  Anna  ! — she  has  power ! ” 

He  struck  with  his  open  hand  upon  the  chimney. 
“ Witch ! ” he  said,  “ there  is  not  your  match  for 
devilry  in  Europe.  Service!  the  thing  runs  on 
wheels.” 

“ Kiss  me,  then,  and  let  me  go.  I must  not 
miss  my  Featherhead,”  she  said. 

“ Stay,  stay,”  said  the  Baron;  “ not  so  fast.  I 
wish,  upon  my  soul,  that  I could  trust  you ; but 
you  are,  out  and  in,  so  whimsical  a devil  that  I 
dare  not.  Hang  it,  Anna,  no;  it ’s  not  possible!  ” 

“ You  doubt  me,  Heinrich?”  she  cried. 

“ Doubt  is  not  the  word,”  said  he.  “ I know 
you.  Once  you  were  clear  of  me  with  that  paper 
in  your  pocket,  who  knows  what  you  would  do 
with  it?  — not  you,  at  least  — nor  I.  You  see,” 


192 


PRINCE  OTTO 


he  added,  shaking  his  head  paternally  upon  the 
Countess,  “ you  are  as  vicious  as  a monkey.” 

“ I swear  to  you,”  she  cried,  “ by  my  salva- 
tion . . .” 

“ I have  no  curiosity  to  hear  you  swearing,”  said 
the  Baron. 

“ You  think  that  I have  no  religion?  You  sup- 
pose me  destitute  of  honour.  Well,”  she  said,  “ see 
here : I will  not  argue,  but  I tell  you  once  for  all : 
leave  me  this  order,  and  the  Prince  shall  be  ar- 
rested — take  it  from  me,  and,  as  certain  as  I 
speak,  I will  upset  the  coach.  Trust  me,  or  fear 
me:  take  your  choice.”  And  she  offered  him  the 
paper. 

The  Baron,  in  a great  contention  of  mind,  stood 
irresolute,  weighing  the  two  dangers.  Once  his 
hand  advanced,  then  dropped.  “ Well,”  he  said, 
“ since  trust  is  what  you  call  it  . . .” 

“ No  more,”  she  interrupted.  “ Do  not  spoil 
your  attitude.  And  now  since  you  have  behaved 
like  a good  sort  of  fellow  in  the  dark,  I will  con- 
descend to  tell  you  why.  I go  to  the  palace  to 
arrange  with  Gordon;  but  how  is  Gordon  to  obey 
me?  And  how  can  I foresee  the  hours?  It  may 
be  midnight;  ay,  and  it  may  be  night-fall;  all's 
a chance;  and  to  act,  I must  be  free  and  hold 
the  strings  of  the  adventure.  And  now,”  she 
cried,  “ your  Vivien  goes.  Dub  me  your  knight!  ” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


1 93 

And  she  held  out  her  arms  and  smiled  upon  him 
radiant. 

“ Well,”  he  said,  when  he  had  kissed  her,  “ every 
man  must  have  his  folly;  I thank  God  mine  is  no 
worse.  Off  with  you!  I have  given  a child  a 
squib.” 


VOL.  v. — 13 


CHAPTER  XII 


PROVIDENCE  VON  ROSEN  : ACT  THE  SECOND  : 
SHE  INFORMS  THE  PRINCE 

IT  was  the  first  impulse  of  Madame  von  Rosen 
to  return  to  her  own  villa  and  revise  her 
toilette.  Whatever  else  should  come  of  this 
adventure,  it  was  her  firm  design  to  pay  a visit  to 
the  Princess.  And  before  that  woman,  so  little 
beloved,  the  Countess  would  appear  at  no  disad- 
vantage. It  was  the  work  of  minutes.  Von  Rosen 
had  the  captain’s  eye  in  matters  of  the  toilette ; she 
was  none  of  those  who  hang  in  Fabian  helplessness 
among  their  finery  and,  after  hours,  come  forth 
upon  the  world  as  dowdies.  A glance,  a loosened 
curl,  a studied  and  admired  disorder  in  the  hair, 
a bit  of  lace,  a touch  of  colour,  a yellow  rose  in  the 
bosom;  and  the  instant  picture  was  complete. 

“ That  will  do,”  she  said.  “ Bid  my  carriage 
follow  me  to  the  palace.  In  half  an  hour  it  should 
be  there  in  waiting.” 

The  night  was  beginning  to  fail  and  the  shops 
to  shine  with  lamps  along  the  tree-beshadowed 
thoroughfares  of  Otto’s  capital,  when  the  Countess 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*95 


started  on  her  high  emprise.  She  was  jocund 
at  heart;  pleasure  and  interest  had  winged  her 
beauty,  and  she  knew  it.  She  paused  before  the 
glowing  jeweller’s;  she  remarked  and  praised  a 
costume  in  the  milliner’s  window;  and  when  she 
reached  the  lime-tree  walk,  with  its  high,  umbra- 
geous arches  and  stir  of  passers-by  in  the  dim 
alleys,  she  took  her  place  upon  a bench  and  began 
to  dally  with  the  pleasures  of  the  hour.  It  was 
cold,  but  she  did  not  feel  it,  being  warm  within; 
her  thoughts,  in  that  dark  corner,  shone  like  the 
gold  and  rubies  at  the  jeweller’s;  her  ears,  which 
heard  the  brushing  of  so  many  footfalls,  transposed 
it  into  music. 

What  was  she  to  do?  She  held  the  paper  by 
which  all  depended.  Otto  and  Gondremark  and 
Ratafia,  and  the  state  itself,  hung  light  in  her  bal- 
ances, as  light  as  dust;  her  little  finger  laid  in 
either  scale  would  set  all  flying:  and  she  hugged 
herself  upon  her  huge  preponderance,  and  then 
laughed  aloud  to  think  how  giddily  it  might  be 
used.  The  vertigo  of  omnipotence,  the  disease  of 
Caesars,  shook  her  reason.  “ O the  mad  world!” 
she  thought,  and  laughed  aloud  in  exultation. 

A child,  finger  in  mouth,  had  paused  a little  way 
from  where  she  sat,  and  stared  with  cloudy  interest 
upon  this  laughing  lady.  She  called  it  nearer ; but 
the  child  hung  hack.  Instantly,  with  that  curious 


PRINCE  OTTO 


196 

passion  which  you  may  see  any  woman  in  the  world 
display,  on  the  most  odd  occasions,  for  a similar 
end,  the  Countess  bent  herself  with  singleness  of 
mind  to  overcome  this  diffidence;  and  presently, 
sure  enough,  the  child  was  seated  on  her  knee, 
thumbing  and  glowering  at  her  watch. 

“ If  you  had  a clay  bear  and  a china  monkey,” 
asked  Von  Rosen,  “ which  would  you  prefer  to 
break?” 

“ But  I have  neither,”  said  the  child. 

“ Well,”  she  said,  “ here  is  a bright  florin,  with 
which  you  may  purchase  both  the  one  and  the 
other;  and  I shall  give  it  you  at  once,  if  you  will 
answer  my  question.  The  clay  bear  or  the  china 
monkey  — come  ? ” 

But  the  unbreeched  soothsayer  only  stared  upon 
the  florin  with  big  eyes;  the  oracle  could  not  be 
persuaded  to  reply;  and  the  Countess  kissed  him 
lightly,  gave  him  the  florin,  set  him  down  upon  the 
path,  and  resumed  her  way  with  swinging  and 
elastic  gait. 

“ Which  shall  I break  ? ” she  wondered ; and 
she  passed  her  hand  with  delight  among  the  care- 
ful disarrangement  of  her  locks.  “ Which  ? ” and 
she  consulted  heaven  with  her  bright  eyes.  “ Do  I 
love  both  or  neither  ? A little  — passionately  — ■ 
not  at  all  ? Both  or  neither  — both,  I believe ; but 
at  least  I will  make  hay  of  Ratafia.” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


*97 


By  the  time  she  had  passed  the  iron  gates, 
mounted  the  drive,  and  set  her  foot  upon  the  broad 
flagged  terrace,  the  night  had  come  completely ; the 
palace  front  was  thick  with  lighted  windows;  and 
along  the  balustrade,  the  lamp  on  every  twentieth 
baluster  shone  clear.  A few  withered  tracks  of 
sunset,  amber  and  glow-worm  green,  still  lingered 
in  the  western  sky;  and  she  paused  once  again  to 
watch  them  fading. 

“ And  to  think/’  she  said,  “ that  here  am  I — 
destiny  embodied,  a norn,  a fate,  a providence 
— and  have  no  guess  upon  which  side  I shall  de- 
clare myself!  What  other  woman  in  my  place 
would  not  be  prejudiced,  and  think  herself  com- 
mitted? But,  thank  Heaven!  I was  born  just!” 
Otto’s  windows  were  bright  among  the  rest,  and 
she  looked  on  them  with  rising  tenderness.  “ How 
does  it  feel  to  be  deserted  ? ” she  thought.  “ Poor 
dear  fool ! The  girl  deserves  that  he  should  see 
this  order.” 

Without  more  delay,  she  passed  into  the  palace 
and  asked  for  an  audience  of  Prince  Otto.  The 
Prince,  she  was  told,  was  in  his  own  apartment, 
and  desired  to  be  private.  She  sent  her  name.  A 
man  presently  returned  with  word  that  the  Prince 
tendered  his  apologies,  but  could  see  no  one. 
“ Then  I will  write,”  she  said,  and  scribbled  a 
few  lines  alleging  urgency  of  life  and  death. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


198 

“ Help  me,  my  Prince,”  she  added ; “ none  but  you 
can  help  me.”  This  time  the  messenger  returned 
more  speedily  and  begged  the  Countess  to  follow 
him : the  Prince  was  graciously  pleased  to  receive 
the  Frau  Grafin  von  Rosen. 

Otto  sat  by  the  fire  in  his  large  armoury, 
weapons  faintly  glittering  all  about  him  in  the 
changeful  light.  His  face  was  disfigured  by  the 
marks  of  weeping;  he  looked  sour  and  sad;  nor 
did  he  rise  to  greet  his  visitor,  but  bowed,  and 
bade  the  man  begone.  That  kind  of  general  ten- 
derness which  served  the  Countess  for  both  heart 
and  conscience,  sharply  smote  her  at  this  spectacle 
of  grief  and  weakness;  she  began  immediately  to 
enter  into  the  spirit  of  her  part;  and  as  soon  as 
they  were  alone,  taking  one  step  forward  and  with 
a magnificent  gesture  — “ Up  ! ” she  cried. 

“ Madame  von  Rosen,”  replied  Otto,  dully,  “ you 
have  used  strong  words.  You  speak  of  life  and 
death.  Pray,  madam,  who  is  threatened?  Who  is 
there,”  he  added  bitterly,  “ so  destitute  that  even 
Otto  of  Griinewald  can  assist  him?” 

“ First  learn,”  said  she,  “ the  names  of  the  con- 
spirators : the  Princess  and  the  Baron  Gondre- 
mark.  Can  you  not  guess  the  rest  ? ” And  then 
as  he  maintained  his  silence  — “ You!  ” she  cried, 
pointing  at  him  with  her  finger.  “ ’T  is  you  they 
threaten!  Your  rascal  and  mine  have  laid  their 


PRINCE  OTTO 


199 


heads  together  and  condemned  you.  But  they 
reckoned  without  you  and  me.  We  make  a partie 
carre,  Prince,  in  love  and  politics.  They  lead  an 
ace,  but  we  shall  trump  it.  Come,  partner,  shall 
I draw  my  card?  ” 

“ Madam/’  he  said,  “ explain  yourself.  Indeed 
I fail  to  comprehend.” 

“ See,  then,”  said  she;  and  handed  him  the 
order. 

He  took  it,  looked  upon  it  with  a start;  and 
then,  still  without  speech,  he  put  his  hand  before 
his  face.  She  waited  for  a word  in  vain. 

“ What ! ” she  cried,  “ do  you  take  the  thing 
down-heartedly  ? As  well  seek  wine  in  a milk-pail 
as  love  in  that  girl’s  heart ! Be  done  with  this,  and 
be  a man.  After  the  league  of  the  lions,  let  us  have 
a conspiracy  of  mice,  and  pull  this  piece  of  ma- 
chinery to  ground.  You  were  brisk  enough  last 
night  when  nothing  was  at  stake  and  all  was  frolic. 
Well,  here  is  better  sport;  here  is  life  indeed.” 

He  got  to  his  feet  with  some  alacrity,  and  his 
face,  which  was  a little  flushed,  bore  the  marks  of 
resolution. 

“ Madame  von  Rosen,”  said  he,  “ I am  neither 
unconscious  nor  ungrateful;  this  is  the  true  con- 
tinuation of  your  friendship ; but  I see  that  I must 
disappoint  your  expectations.  You  seem  to  expect 
from  me  some  effort  of  resistance ; but  why 


200 


PRINCE  OTTO 


should  I resist?  I have  not  much  to  gain  ; and 
now  that  I have  read  this  paper,  and  the  last  of  a 
fool’s  paradise  is  shattered,  it  would  be  hyperbolical 
to  speak  of  loss  in  the  same  breath  with  Otto  of 
Griinewald.  I have  no  party ; no  policy ; no  pride, 
nor  anything  to  be  proud  of.  For  what  benefit  or 
principle  under  Heaven  do  you  expect  me  to  con- 
tend ? Or  would  you  have  me  bite  and  scratch  like 
a trapped  weasel?  No,  madam;  signify  to  those 
who  sent  you  my  readiness  to  go.  I would  at  least 
avoid  a scandal.” 

“You  go?  — of  your  own  will,  you  go?”  she 
cried. 

“ I cannot  say  so  much,  perhaps,”  he  answered ; 
“ but  I go  with  good  alacrity.  I have  desired  a 
change  some  time;  behold  one  offered  me!  Shall 
I refuse?  Thank  God,  I am  not  so  destitute  of 
humour  as  to  make  a tragedy  of  such  a farce.”  He 
flicked  the  order  on  the  table.  “ You  may  signify 
my  readiness,”  he  added,  grandly. 

“ Ah,”  she  said,  “ you  are  more  angry  than  you 
own.”  » 

“I,  madam?  angry?”  he  cried.  “You  rave. 
I have  no  cause  for  anger.  In  every  way  I have 
been  taught  my  weakness,  my  instability,  and  my 
unfitness  for  the  world.  I am  a plexus  of  weak- 
nesses, an  impotent  Prince,  a doubtful  gentleman ; 
and  you  yourself,  indulgent  as  you  are,  have  twice 


PRINCE  OTTO 


201 


reproved  my  levity.  And  shall  I be  angry  ? I may 
feel  the  unkindness,  but  I have  sufficient  honesty  of 
mind  to  see  the  reasons  of  this  coup  d’etat” 

“From  whom  have  you  got  this?”  she  cried, 
in  wonder.  “ You  think  you  have  not  behaved 
well?  My  Prince,  were  you  not  young  and  hand- 
some, I should  detest  you  for  your  virtues.  You 
push  them  to  the  verge  of  commonplace.  And  this 
ingratitude ” 

“ Understand  me,  Madame  von  Rosen,”  re- 
turned the  Prince,  flushing  a little  darker,  “ there 
can  be  here  no  talk  of  gratitude,  none  of  pride.  You 
are  here,  by  what  circumstance  I know  not,  but 
doubtless  led  by  your  kindness,  mixed  up  in  what 
regards  my  family  alone.  You  have  no  knowledge 
what  my  wife,  your  sovereign,  may  have  suffered ; 
it  is  not  for  you  — no,  nor  for  me  — to  judge.  I 
own  myself  in  fault ; and  were  it  otherwise,  a man 
were  a very  empty  boaster  who  should  talk  of 
love  and  start  before  a small  humiliation.  It  is 
in  all  the  copybooks  that  one  should  die  to 
please  his  lady-love;  and  shall  a man  not  go  to 
prison  ? ” 

“ Love  ? And  what  has  love  to  do  with  being 
sent  to  gaol  ? ” exclaimed  the  Countess,  appeal- 
ing to  the  walls  and  roof.  “ Heaven  knows  I 
think  as  much  of  love  as  any  one;  my  life  would 
prove  it ; but  I admit  no  love,  at  least  for  a 


202  PRINCE  OTTO 

man,  that  is  not  equally  returned.  The  rest  is 
moonshine.” 

“ I think  of  love  more  absolutely,  madam,  though 
I am  certain  no  more  tenderly,  than  a lady  to  whom 
I am  indebted  for  such  kindnesses,”  returned  the 
Prince.  “ But  this  is  unavailing.  We  are  not  here 
to  hold  a court  of  troubadours.” 

“ Still,”  she  replied,  “ there  is  one  thing  you 
forget.  If  she  conspires  with  Gondremark  against 
your  liberty,  she  may  conspire  with  him  against 
your  honour  also.” 

“My  honour?”  he  repeated.  “For  a woman, 
you  surprise  me.  If  I have  failed  to  gain  her  love 
or  play  my  part  of  husband,  what  right  is  left  me  ? 
or  what  honour  can  remain  in  such  a scene  of 
defeat?  No  honour  that  I recognise.  I am  be- 
come a stranger.  If  my  wife  no  longer  loves  me, 
I will  go  to  prison,  since  she  wills  it;  if  she  love 
another,  where  should  I be  more  in  place?  or 
whose  fault  is  it  but  mine?  You  speak,  Madame 
von  Rosen,  like  too  many  women,  with  a man’s 
tongue.  Had  I myself  fallen  into  temptation  (as, 
Heaven  knows,  I might)  I should  have  trembled, 
but  still  hoped  and  asked  for  her  forgiveness ; and 
yet  mine  had  been  a treason  in  the  teeth  of  love. 
But  let  me  tell  you,  madam,”  he  pursued,  with 
rising  irritation,  “ where  a husband  by  futility, 
facility,  and  ill-timed  humours  has  outwearied  his 


PRINCE  OTTO 


203 


wife’s  patience,  I will  suffer  neither  man  nor  wo- 
man to  misjudge  her.  She  is  free;  the  man  has 
been  found  wanting.” 

“ Because  she  loves  you  not?”  the  Countess 
cried.  “ You  know  she  is  incapable  of  such  a 
feeling.” 

“ Rather,  it  was  I who  was  born  incapable  of 
inspiring  it,”  said  Otto. 

Madame  von  Rosen  broke  into  sudden  laughter. 
“ Fool,”  she  cried,  “ I am  in  love  with  you  myself.” 

“ Ah,  madam,  you  are  most  compassionate,”  the 
Prince  retorted,  smiling.  “ But  this  is  waste  de- 
bate. I know  my  purpose.  Perhaps,  to  equal  you 
in  frankness,  I know  and  embrace  my  advantage. 
I am  not  without  the  spirit  of  adventure.  I am  in 
a false  position  — so  recognised  by  public  acclama- 
tion: do  you  grudge  me,  then,  my  issue?” 

“ If  your  mind  is  made  up,  why  should  I dis- 
suade you?”  said  the  Countess.  “I  own,  with  a 
bare  face,  I am  the  gainer.  Go,  you  take  my  heart 
with  you,  or  more  of  it  than  I desire;  I shall  not 
sleep  at  night  for  thinking  of  your  misery.  But 
do  not  be  afraid;  I would  not  spoil  you,  you  are 
such  a fool  and  hero.” 

“ Alas ! madam,”  cried  the  Prince,  “ and  your 
unlucky  money!  I did  amiss  to  take  it,  but  you 
are  a wonderful  persuader.  And  I thank  God,  I 
can  still  offer  you  the  fair  equivalent.”  He  took 


204  PRINCE  OTTO 

some  papers  from  the  chimney.  “ Here,  madam, 
are  the  title-deeds/’  he  said;  “ where  I am  going, 
they  can  certainly  be  of  no  use  to  me,  and  I have 
now  no  other  hope  of  making  up  to  you  your 
kindness.  You  made  the  loan  without  formality, 
obeying  your  kind  heart.  The  parts  are  some- 
what changed;  the  sun  of  this  Prince  of  Griine- 
wald  is  upon  the  point  of  setting;  and  I know 
you  better  than  to  doubt  you  will  once  more 
waive  ceremony,  and  accept  the  best  that  he  can 
give  you.  If  I may  look  for  any  pleasure  in 
the  coming  time,  it  will  be  to  remember  that  the 
peasant  is  secure,  and  my  most  generous  friend 
no  loser.” 

“ Do  you  not  understand  my  odious  position?  ” 
cried  the  Countess.  “ Dear  Prince,  it  is  upon  your 
fall  that  I begin  my  fortune.” 

“ It  was  the  more  like  you  to  tempt  me  to  re- 
sistance,” returned  Otto.  “ But  this  cannot  alter 
our  relations ; and  I must,  for  the  last  time,  lay  my 
commands  upon  you  in  the  character  of  Prince.” 
And  with  his  loftiest  dignity,  he  forced  the  deeds 
on  her  acceptance. 

“ I hate  the  very  touch  of  them,”  she  cried. 

There  followed  upon  this  a little  silence.  “ At 
what  time,”  resumed  Otto,  “ (if  indeed  you  know) 
am  I to  be  arrested  ? ” 

“ Your  Highness,  when  you  please!  ” exclaimed 


PRINCE  OTTO  205 

the  Countess.  “Or  if  you  choose  to  tear  that  paper, 
never ! ” 

“ I would  rather  it  were  done  quickly,”  said  the 
Prince.  “ I shall  take  but  time  to  leave  a letter 
for  the  Princess.” 

“ Well/’  said  the  Countess,  “ I have  advised  you 
to  resist;  at  the  same  time,  if  you  intend  to  be 
dumb  before  your  shearers,  I must  say  that  I ought 
to  set  about  arranging  your  arrest.  I offered  ” — - 
she  hesitated  — “I  offered  to  manage  it,  intend- 
ing, my  dear  friend  — intending,  upon  my  soul, 
to  be  of  use  to  you.  Well,  if  you  will  not  profit 
by  my  good-will,  then  be  of  use  to  me;  and  as 
soon  as  ever  you  feel  ready,  go  to  the  Flying 
Mercury  where  we  met  last  night.  It  will  be  none 
the  worse  for  you;  and  to  make  it  quite  plain,  it 
will  be  better  for  the  rest  of  us.” 

“ Dear  madam,  certainly,”  said  Otto.  “ If  I am 
prepared  for  the  chief  evil,  I shall  not  quarrel  with 
details.  Go,  then,  with  my  best  gratitude;  and 
when  I have  written  a few  lines  of  leave-taking,  I 
shall  immediately  hasten  to  keep  tryst.  To-night, 
I shall  not  meet  so  dangerous  a cavalier,”  he  added, 
with  a smiling  gallantry. 

As  soon  as  Madame  von  Rosen  was  gone,  he 
made  a great  call  upon  his  self-command.  He  was 
face  to  face  with  a miserable  passage  where,  if  it 
were  possible,  he  desired  to  carry  himself  with  dig- 


20 6 PRINCE  OTTO 

nity.  As  to  the  main  fact,  he  never  swerved  or 
faltered;  he  had  come  so  heartsick  and  so  cruelly 
humiliated  from  his  talk  with  Gotthold,  that  he' 
embraced  the  notion  of  imprisonment  with  some- 
thing bordering  on  relief.  Here  was,  at  least,  a 
step  which  he  thought  blameless;  here  was  a way 
out  of  his  troubles.  He  sat  down  to  write  to 
Seraphina ; and  his  anger  blazed.  The  tale  of  his 
forbearances  mounted,  in  his  eyes,  to  something 
monstrous ; still  more  monstrous,  the  coldness,  ego- 
ism, and  cruelty  that  had  required  and  thus  re- 
quited them.  The  pen  which  he  had  taken  shook 
in  his  hand.  He  was  amazed  to  find  his  resigna- 
tion fled,  but  it  was  gone  beyond  his  recall.  In  a 
few  white-hot  words,  he  bade  adieu,  dubbing  des- 
peration by  the  name  of  love,  and  calling  his  wrath 
forgiveness;  then  he  cast  but  one  look  of  leave- 
taking  on  the  place  that  had  been  his  for  so  long 
and  was  now  to  be  his  no  longer;  and  hurried 
forth  — love’s  prisoner  — or  pride’s. 

He  took  that  private  passage  which  he  had 
trodden  so  often  in  less  momentous  hours.  The 
porter  let  him  out ; and  the  bountiful,  cold  air  of 
the  night  and  the  pure  glory  of  the  stars  received 
him  on  the  threshold.  He  looked  round  him, 
breathing  deep  of  earth’s  plain  fragrance ; he  looked 
up  into  the  great  array  of  heaven,  and  was  quieted. 
His  little  turgid  life  dwindled  to  its  true  propor- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


207 

tions;  and  he  saw  himself  (that  great  flame-hearted 
martyr!)  stand  like  a speck  under  the  cool  cupola 
of  the  night.  Thus  he  felt  his  careless  injuries 
already  soothed;  the  live  air  of  out-of-doors,  the 
quiet  of  the  world,  as  if  by  their  silent  music, 
sobering  and  dwarfing  his  emotions. 

“ Well,  I forgive  her,”  he  said.  “ If  it  be  of 
any  use  to  her,  I forgive.” 

And  with  brisk  steps,  he  crossed  the  garden, 
issued  upon  the  Park  and  came  to  the  Flying 
Mercury.  A dark  figure  moved  forward  from  the 
shadow  of  the  pedestal. 

“ I have  to  ask  your  pardon,  sir,”  a voice  ob- 
served, “ but  if  I am  right  in  taking  you  for  the 
Prince,  I was  given  to  understand  that  you  would 
be  prepared  to  meet  me.” 

“ Herr  Gordon,  I believe?”  said  Otto. 

“ Herr  Oberst  Gordon,”  replied  that  officer. 
“ This  is  rather  a ticklish  business  for  a man  to 
be  embarked  in ; and  to  find  that  all  is  to  go 
pleasantly,  is  a great  relief  to  me.  The  carriage 
is  at  hand;  shall  I have  the  honour  of  following 
your  Highness?” 

“ Colonel,”  said  the  Prince,  “ I have  now  come 
to  that  happy  moment  of  my  life,  when  I have 
orders  to  receive  but  none  to  give.” 

“ A most  philosophical  remark ! ” returned  the 
Colonel.  “ Begad,  a very  pertinent  remark ! it 


208  PRINCE  OTTO 

might  be  Plutarch.  I am  not  a drop’s  blood  to 
your  Highness,  or  indeed  to  any  one  in  this  prin- 
cipality; or  else  I should  dislike  my  orders.  But 
as  it  is,  and  since  there  is  nothing  unnatural  or 
unbecoming  on  my  side,  and  your  Highness  takes 
it  in  good  part,  I begin  to  believe  we  may  have  a 
capital  time  together,  sir  — a capital  time.  For 
a gaoler  is  only  a fellow  captive.” 

“ May  I inquire,  Herr  Gordon,”  asked  Otto, 
“ what  led  you  to  accept  this  dangerous  and  I 
would  fain  hope  thankless  office  ? ” 

“ Very  natural,  I am  sure,”  replied  the  officer 
of  fortune.  “ My  pay  is,  in  the  meanwhile, 
doubled.” 

“ Well,  sir,  I will  not  presume  to  criticise,”  re- 
turned the  Prince.  “ And  I perceive  the  carriage.” 
Sure  enough,  at  the  intersection  of  two  alleys  of 
the  Park,  a coach  and  four,  conspicuous  by  its 
lanterns,  stood  in  waiting.  And  a little  way  off 
about  a score  of  lancers  were  drawn  up  under  the 
shadow  of  the  trees. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


PROVIDENCE  VON  ROSEN  : ACT  THE  THIRD  : 
SHE  ENLIGHTENS  SERAPHINA 

WHEN  Madame  von  Rosen  left  the 
Prince,  she  hurried  straight  to  Colonel 
Gordon;  and  not  content  with  direct- 
ing the  arrangements,  she  had  herself  accompanied 
the  soldier  of  fortune  to  the  Flying  Mercury.  The 
Colonel  gave  her  his  arm,  and  the  talk  between 
this  pair  of  conspirators  ran  high  and  lively.  The 
Countess,  indeed,  was  in  a whirl  of  pleasure  and 
excitement;  her  tongue  stumbled  upon  laughter, 
her  eyes  shone,  the  colour  that  was  usually  want- 
ing now  perfected  her  face.  It  would  have  taken 
little  more  to  bring  Gordon  to  her  feet  — or  so7 
at  least,  she  believed,  disdaining  the  idea. 

Hidden  among  some  lilac  bushes,  she  enjoyed  the 
great  decorum  of  the  arrest,  and  heard  the  dialogue 
of  the  two  men  die  away  along  the  path.  Soon 
after,  the  rolling  of  a carriage  and  the  beat  of 
hoofs  arose  in  the  still  air  of  the  night,  and 
passed  speedily  farther  and  fainter  into  silence. 
The  Prince  was  gone. 

VOL.  V.  — 14 


2 IO 


PRINCE  OTTO 


Madame  von  Rosen  consulted  her  watch.  She 
had  still,  she  thought,  time  enough  for  the  titbit 
of  her  evening ; and  hurrying  to  the  palace,  winged 
by  the  fear  of  Gondremark’s  arrival,  she  sent  her 
name  and  a pressing  request  for  a reception  to  the 
Princess  Seraphina.  As  the  Countess  von  Rosen 
unqualified,  she  was  sure  to  be  refused ; but  as  an 
emissary  of  the  Baron’s,  for  so  she  chose  to  style 
herself,  she  gained  immediate  entry. 

The  Princess  sat  alone  at  table,  making  a feint 
of  dining.  Her  cheeks  were  mottled,  her  eyes 
heavy;  she  had  neither  slept  nor  eaten;  even  her 
dress  had  been  neglected.  In  short,  she  was  out 
of  health,  out  of  looks,  out  of  heart,  and  hag- 
ridden by  her  conscience.  The  Countess  drew  a 
swift  comparison,  and  shone  brighter  in  beauty. 

“ You  come,  madam,  de  la  part  de  Monsieur  le 
Baron  ” drawled  the  Princess.  “ Be  seated ! What 
have  you  to  say?  ” 

“ To  say?  ” repeated  Madame  von  Rosen.  “ O, 
much  to  say ! Much  to  say,  that  I would  rather 
not,  and  much  to  leave  unsaid  that  I would  rather 
say.  For  I am  like  St.  Paul,  your  Highness,  and 
always  wish  to  do  the  things  I should  not.  Well! 
to  be  categorical  — that  is  the  word?  — I took  the 
Prince  your  order.  He  could  not  credit  his  senses. 

1 Ah/  he  cried,  ‘ dear  Madame  von  Rosen,  it  is 
not  possible  — it  cannot  be  — I must  hear  it  from 


PRINCE  OTTO 


21  I 


vour  lips.  My  wife  is  a poor  girl  misled,  she  is 
only  silly,  she  is  not  cruel/  Mon  Prince ,”  said  I, 
‘ a girl  — and  therefore  cruel ; youth  kills  flies/  — 
He  had  such  pain  to  understand  it ! ” 

“ Madame  von  Rosen/’  said  the  Princess,  in 
most  steadfast  tones,  but  with  a rose  of  anger  in 
her  face,  “ who  sent  you  here,  and  for  what  pur- 
pose? Tell  your  errand.” 

“ O,  madam,  I believe  you  understand  me  very 
well,”  returned  Von  Rosen.  “ I have  not  your 
philosophy.  I wear  my  heart  upon  my  sleeve, 
excuse  the  indecency!  It  is  a very  little  one,”  she 
laughed,  “ and  I so  often  change  the  sleeve!” 

“ Am  I to  understand  the  Prince  has  been  ar- 
rested?” asked  the  Princess,  rising. 

“ While  you  sat  there  dining!  ” cried  the  Count- 
ess, still  nonchalantly  seated. 

“ You  have  discharged  your  errand,”  was  the 
reply;  “I  will  not  detain  you.” 

“ O no,  madam,”  said  the  Countess,  “ with  your 
permission,  I have  not  yet  done.  I have  borne 
much  this  evening  in  your  service.  I have  suf- 
fered. I was  made  to  suffer  in  your  service.” 
She  unfolded  her  fan  as  she  spoke.  Quick  as  her 
pulses  beat,  the  fan  waved  languidly.  She  betrayed 
her  emotion  only  by  the  brightness  of  her  eyes 
and  face,  and  by  the  almost  insolent  triumph  with 
which  she  looked  down  upon  the  Princess.  There 


212 


PRINCE  OTTO 


were  old  scores  of  rivalry  between  them  in  more 
than  one  field;  so  at  least  Von  Rosen  felt;  and 
now  she  was  to  have  her  hour  of  victory  in 
them  all. 

“ You  are  no  servant,  Madame  von  Rosen,  of 
mine/’  said  Seraphina. 

“ No,  madam,  indeed,”  returned  the  Countess; 
“ but  we  both  serve  the  same  person,  as  you  know 
— or,  if  you  do  not,  then  I have  the  pleasure  of 
informing  you.  Your  conduct  is  so  light  — so 
light,”  she  repeated,  the  fan  wavering  higher  like 
a butterfly,  “ that  perhaps  you  do  not  truly  under- 
stand.” The  Countess  rolled  her  fan  together,  laid 
it  in  her  lap,  and  rose  to  a less  languorous  position. 
“ Indeed,”  she  continued,  “ I should  be  sorry  to 
see  any  young  woman  in  your  situation.  You 
began  with  every  advantage  — birth,  a suitable 
marriage  — quite  pretty  too  — and  see  what  you 
have  come  to ! My  poor  girl,  to  think  of  it ! But 
there  is  nothing  that  does  so  much  harm,”  ob- 
served the  Countess  finely,  “ as  giddiness  of  mind.” 
And  she  once  more  unfurled  the  fan,  and  approv- 
ingly fanned  herself. 

“ I will  no  longer  permit  you  to  forget  your- 
self,” cried  Seraphina.  “ I think  you  are  mad.” 

“ Not  mad,”  returned  Von  Rosen.  “Sane  enough 
to  know  you  dare  not  break  with  me  to-night,  and 
to  profit  by  the  knowledge.  I left  my  poor,  pretty 


PRINCE  OTTO 


213 


Prince  Charming  crying  his  eyes  out  for  a wooden 
doll.  My  heart  is  soft;  I love  my  pretty  Prince; 
you  will  never  understand  it,  but  I long  to  give 
my  Prince  his  doll,  dry  his  poor  eyes,  and  send 
him  off  happy.  O,  you  immature  fool ! ” the 
Countess  cried,  rising  to  her  feet,  and  pointing  at 
the  Princess  the  closed  fan  that  now  began  to 
tremble  in  her  hand.  “ O wooden  doll ! ” she  cried, 
“ have  you  a heart,  or  blood,  or  any  nature  ? This 
is  a man,  child  — a man  who  loves  you.  O,  it 
will  not  happen  twice!  it  is  not  common;  beauti- 
ful and  clever  women  look  in  vain  for  it.  And 
you,  you  pitiful  schoolgirl,  tread  this  jewel  under- 
foot! you,  stupid  with  your  vanity!  Before  you 
try  to  govern  kingdoms,  you  should  first  be  able 
to  behave  yourself  at  home;  home  is  the  woman’s 
kingdom.”  She  paused  and  laughed  a little, 
strangely  to  hear  and  look  upon.  “ I will  tell 
you  one  of  the  things,”  she  said,  “ that  were  to 
stay  unspoken.  Von  Rosen  is  a better  woman 
than  you,  my  Princess,  though  you  will  never 
have  the  pain  of  understanding  it;  and  when  I 
took  the  Prince  your  order,  and  looked  upon  his 
face,  my  soul  was  melted  — O,  I am  frank  — 
here,  within  my  arms,  I offered  him  repose ! ” 
She  advanced  a step  superbly  as  she  spoke,  with 
outstretched  arms ; and  Seraphina  shrank.  “ Do 
not  be  alarmed ! ” the  Countess  cried ; “ I am  not 


214 


PRINCE  OTTO 


offering  that  hermitage  to  you;  in  all  the  world 
there  is  but  one  who  wants  to,  and  him  you  have 
dismissed!  ‘If  it  will  give  her  pleasure  I should 
wear  the  martyr’s  crown/  he  cried,  ‘ I will  em- 
brace the  thorns.’  I tell  you  — I am  quite  frank 
— I put  the  order  in  his  power  and  begged  him 
to  resist.  You,  who  have  betrayed  your  husband, 
may  betray  me  to  Gondremark ; my  Prince  would 
betray  no  one.  Understand  it  plainly,”  she  cried, 
“ ’t  is  of  his  pure  forbearance  you  sit  there ; he 
had  the  power  — I gave  it  him  — to  change  the 
parts ; and  he  refused,  and  went  to  prison  in  your 
place.” 

The  Princess  spoke  with  some  distress.  “ Your 
violence  shocks  me  and  pains  me,”  she  began,  “ but 
I cannot  be  angry  with  what  at  least  does  honour 
to  the  mistaken  kindness  of  your  heart : it  was  right 
for  me  to  know  this.  I will  condescend  to  tell  you. 
It  was  with  deep  regret  that  I was  driven  to  this 
step.  I admit  in  many  ways  the  Prince  — I admit 
his  amiability.  It  was  our  great  misfortune,  it 
was  perhaps  somewhat  of  my  fault,  that  we  were 
so  unsuited  to  each  other;  but  I have  a regard,  a 
sincere  regard,  for  all  his  qualities.  As  a private 
person  I should  think  as  you  do.  It  is  difficult,  I 
know,  to  make  allowances  for  state  considerations. 
I have  only  with  deep  reluctance  obeyed  the  call 
of  a superior  duty;  and  so  soon  as  I dare  do  it 


PRINCE  OTTO 


2I5 


for  the  safety  of  the  state,  I promise  you  the  Prince 
shall  be  released.  Many  in  my  situation  would 
have  resented  your  freedoms.  I am  not  — ” and 
she  looked  for  a moment  rather  piteously  upon  the 
Countess  — “I  am  not  altogether  so  inhuman  as 
you  think.” 

“ And  you  can  put  these  troubles  of  the  state,” 
the  Countess  cried,  “ to  weigh  with  a man's  love?  ” 

“ Madame  von  Rosen,  these  troubles  are  affairs 
of  life  and  death  to  many ; to  the  Prince,  and  per- 
haps even  to  yourself,  among  the  number,”  re- 
plied the  Princess,  with  dignity.  “ I have  learned, 
madam,  although  still  so  young,  in  a hard  school, 
that  my  own  feelings  must  everywhere  come  last.” 

“ O callow  innocence ! ” exclaimed  the  other. 
“ Is  it  possible  you  do  not  know,  or  do  not  suspect, 
the  intrigue  in  which  you  move?  I find  it  in  my 
heart  to  pity  you!  We  are  both  women  after  all 
— poor  girl,  poor  girl ! — and  who  is  born  a 
woman  is  born  a fool.  And  though  I hate  all 
women  — come,  for  the  common  folly,  I forgive 
you.  Your  Highness  ” — she  dropped  a deep  stage 
curtsey  and  resumed  her  fan  — “I  am  going  to 
insult  you,  to  betray  one  who  is  called  my  lover, 
and  if  it  pleases  you  to  use  the  power  I now  put 
unreservedly  into  your  hands,  to  ruin  my  dear  self. 
O,  what  a French  comedy ! You  betray,  I betray, 
they  betray.  It  is  now  my  cue.  The  letter,  yes. 


21  6 


PRINCE  OTTO 


Behold  the  letter,  madam,  its  seal  unbroken  as  I 
found  it  by  my  bed  this  morning;  for  I was  out 
of  humour,  and  I get  many,  too  many,  of  these 
favours.  For  your  own  sake,  for  the  sake  of  my 
Prince  Charming,  for  the  sake  of  this  great  prin- 
cipality that  sits  so  heavy  on  your  conscience,  open 
it  and  read ! ” 

“ Am  I to  understand/’  inquired  the  Princess, 
“that  this  letter  in  any  way  regards  me?” 

“ You  see  I have  not  opened  it,”  replied  Von 
Rosen ; “ but  ’t  is  mine,  and  I beg  you  to  experi- 
ment.” 

“ I cannot  look  at  it  till  you  have,”  returned 
Seraphina,  very  seriously.  “ There  may  be  matter 
there  not  meant  for  me  to  see;  it  is  a private 
letter.” 

The  Countess  tore  it  open,  glanced  it  through, 
and  tossed  it  back;  and  the  Princess,  taking  up 
the  sheet,  recognised  the  hand  of  Gondremark, 
and  read  with  a sickening  shock  the  following 
lines : 

“ Dearest  Anna,  come  at  once.  Ratafia  has  done  the  deed, 
her  husband  to  be  packed  to  prison.  This  puts  the  minx 
entirely  in  my  power  ; le  tour  est  joue ; she  will  now  go  steady 
in  harness,  or  I will  know  the  reason  why.  Come. 

“ Heinrich.” 

“ Command  yourself,  madam,”  said  the  Count- 
ess, watching  with  some  alarm  the  white  face  of 


PRINCE  OTTO 


217 


Seraphina.  “ It  is  in  vain  for  you  to  fight  with 
Gondremark : he  has  more  strings  than  mere 
Court  favour,  and  could  bring  you  down  to-mor- 
row with  a word.  I would  not  have  betrayed  him 
otherwise;  but  Heinrich  is  a man,  and  plays  with 
all  of  you  like  marionettes.  And  now  at  least  you 
see  for  what  you  sacrificed  my  Prince.  Madam, 
will  you  take  some  wine?  I have  been  cruel.” 

“ Not  cruel,  madam  — salutary,”  said  Seraphina, 
with  a phantom  smile.  “ No,  I thank  you,  I re- 
quire no  attentions.  The  first  surprise  affected  me : 
will  you  give  me  time  a little?  I must  think.” 

She  took  her  head  between  her  hands,  and  con- 
templated for  awhile  the  hurricane  confusion  of 
her  thoughts. 

“ This  information  reaches  me,”  she  said, 
“ when  I have  need  of  it.  I would  not  do  as 
you  have  done,  but  yet  I thank  you.  I have  been 
much  deceived  in  Baron  Gondremark.” 

“ O,  madam,  leave  Gondremark,  and  think  upon 
the  Prince!  ” cried  Von  Rosen. 

“ You  speak  once  more  as  a private  person,” 
said  the  Princess ; “ nor  do  I blame  you.  But  my 
own  thoughts  are  more  distracted.  However,  as 
I believe  you  are  truly  a friend  to  my  — to  the 

as  I believe,”  she  said,  “ you  are  a friend  to 

Otto,  I shall  put  the  order  for  his  release  into 
your  hands  this  moment.  Give  me  the  ink-dish. 


2 1 8 PRINCE  OTTO 

There ! ” and  she  wrote  hastily,  steadying  her  arm 
upon  the  table,  for  she  trembled  like  a reed.  “ Re- 
member, madam/’  she  resumed,  handing  her  the 
order,  “ this  must  not  be  used  nor  spoken  of  at 
present;  till  I have  seen  the  Baron,  any  hurried 
step  — I lose  myself  in  thinking.  The  suddenness 
has  shaken  me.” 

“ I promise  you  I will  not  use  it,”  said  the 
Countess,  “ till  you  give  me  leave,  although  I wish 
the  Prince  could  be  informed  of  it,  to  comfort  his 
poor  heart.  And,  oh,  I had  forgotten,  he  has  left 
a letter.  Suffer  me,  madam;  I will  bring  it  you. 
This  is  the  door,  I think?”  And  she  sought  to 
open  it. 

“ The  bolt  is  pushed,”  said  Seraphina,  flushing. 

“ O ! O ! ” cried  the  Countess. 

A silence  fell  between  them. 

“ I will  get  it  for  myself,”  said  Seraphina;  “ and 
in  the  meanwhile  I beg  you  to  leave  me.  I thank 
you,  I am  sure,  but  I shall  be  obliged  if  you  will 
leave  me.” 

The  Countess  deeply  curtseyed,  and  withdrew. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


RELATES  THE  CAUSE  AND  OUTBREAK  OF 
THE  REVOLUTION 

BRAVE  as  she  was,  and  brave  by  intellect, 
the  Princess,  when  first  she  was  alone, 
clung  to  the  table  for  support.  The  four 
corners  of  her  universe  had  fallen.  She  had  never 
liked  nor  trusted  Gondremark  completely ; she  had 
still  held  it  possible  to  find  him  false  to  friendship ; 
but  from  that  to  finding  him  devoid  of  all  those 
public  virtues  for  which  she  had  honoured  him,  a 
mere  commonplace  intriguer,  using  her  for  his  own 
ends,  the  step  was  wide  and  the  descent  giddy. 
Light  and  darkness  succeeded  each  other  in  her 
brain ; now  she  believed,  and  now  she  could  not. 
She  turned,  blindly  groping  for  the  note.  But 
Von  Rosen,  who  had  not  forgotten  to  take  the 
warrant  from  the  Prince,  had  remembered  to  re- 
cover her  note  from  the  Princess : Von  Rosen  was 
an  old  campaigner,  whose  most  violent  emotion 
aroused  rather  than  clouded  the  vigour  of  her 


reason. 


220 


PRINCE  OTTO 


The  thought  recalled  to  Seraphina  the  remem- 
brance of  the  other  letter  — Otto’s.  She  rose  and 
went  speedily,  her  brain  still  wheeling,  and  burst 
into  the  Prince’s  armoury.  The  old  chamberlain 
was  there  in  waiting;  and  the  sight  of  another 
face,  prying  (or  so  she  felt)  on  her  distress,  struck 
Seraphina  into  childish  anger. 

“ Go!  ” she  cried;  and  then,  when  the  old  man 
was  already  half-way  to  the  door,  “Stay!”  she 
added.  “ As  soon  as  Baron  Gondremark  arrives, 
let  him  attend  me  here.” 

“ It  shall  be  so  directed,”  said  the  chamberlain. 

“ There  was  a letter  . . .”  she  began,  and 
paused. 

“ Her  Highness,”  said  the  chamberlain,  “ will 
find  a letter  on  the  table.  I had  received  no  orders, 
or  her  Highness  had  been  spared  this  trouble.” 

“ No,  no,  no,”  she  cried.  “ I thank  you.  I 
desire  to  be  alone.” 

And  then,  when  he  was  gone,  she  leaped  upon 
the  letter.  Her  mind  was  still  obscured;  like  the 
moon  upon  a night  of  clouds  and  wind,  her  reason 
shone  and  was  darkened;  and  she  read  the  words 
by  flashes. 

“ Seraphina  [the  Prince  wrote],  I will  write  no  syllable  of 
reproach.  I have  seen  your  order,  and  I go.  What  else  is 
left  me  ? I have  wasted  my  love,  and  have  no  more.  To  say 
that  I forgive  you  is  not  needful  : at  least,  we  are  now 
separate  for  ever;  by  your  own  act,  you  free  me  from  my 


PRINCE  OTTO 


221 


willing  bondage:  I go  free  to  prison.  This  is  the  last  that 
you  will  hear  of  me  in  love  or  anger.  I have  gone  out  of 
your  life ; you  may  breathe  easy;  you  have  now  rid  yourself 
of  the  husband  who  allowed  you  to  desert  him,  of  the  Prince 
who  gave  you  his  rights,  and  of  the  married  lover  who  made 
it  his  pride  to  defend  you  in  your  absence.  How  you  have 
requited  him,  your  own  heart  more  loudly  tells  you  than  my 
words.  There  is  a day  coming  when  your  vain  dreams  will 
roll  away  like  clouds,  and  you  will  find  yourself  alone.  Then 
you  will  remember 

“ Otto.” 

She  read  with  a great  horror  on  her  mind ; that 
day,  of  which  he  wrote,  was  come.  She  was  alone ; 
she  had  been  false,  she  had  been  cruel;  remorse 
rolled  in  upon  her;  and  then  with  a more  piercing 
note,  vanity  bounded  on  the  stage  of  conscious- 
ness. She  a dupe!  she  helpless!  she  to  have  be- 
trayed herself  in  seeking  to  betray  her  husband ! 
she  to  have  lived  these  years  upon  flattery,  grossly 
swallowing  the  bolus,  like  a clown  with  sharpers! 
she  — Seraphina ! Her  swift  mind  drank  the  con- 
sequences ; she  foresaw  the  coming  fall,  her  public 
shame;  she  saw  the  odium,  disgrace,  and  folly  of 
her  story  flaunt  through  Europe.  She  recalled  the 
scandal  she  had  so  royally  braved ; and  alas ! she 
had  now  no  courage  to  confront  it  with.  To  be 
thought  the  mistress  of  that  man : perhaps  for 
that  ...  She  closed  her  eyes  on  agonising  vistas. 
Swift  as  thought  she  had  snatched  a bright  dagger 
from  the  weapons  that  shone  along  the  wall.  Ay, 


222 


PRINCE  OTTO 


she  would  escape.  From  that  world-wide  theatre 
of  nodding  heads  and  buzzing  whisperers,  in  which 
she  now  beheld  herself  unpitiably  martyred,  one 
door  stood  open.  At  any  cost,  through  any  stress 
of  suffering,  that  greasy  laughter  should  be  stifled. 
She  closed  her  eyes,  breathed  a wordless  prayer, 
and  pressed  the  weapon  to  her  bosom. 

At  the  astonishing  sharpness  of  the  prick,  she 
gave  a cry  and  awoke  to  a sense  of  undeserved 
escape.  A little  ruby  spot  of  blood  was  the  re- 
ward of  that  great  act  of  desperation;  but  the 
pain  had  braced  her  like  a tonic,  and  her  whole 
design  of  suicide  had  passed  away. 

At  the  same  instant  regular  feet  drew  near  along 
the  gallery,  and  she  knew  the  tread  of  the  big 
Baron,  so  often  gladly  welcome,  and  even  now 
rallying  her  spirits  like  a call  to  battle.  She  con- 
cealed the  dagger  in  the  folds  of  her  skirt;  and 
drawing  her  stature  up,  she  stood  firm-footed, 
radiant  with  anger,  waiting  for  the  foe. 

The  Baron  was  announced,  and  entered.  To 
him,  Seraphina  was  a hated  task:  like  the  school- 
boy with  his  Virgil,  he  had  neither  will  nor  leisure 
to  remark  her  beauties ; but  when  he  now  beheld 
her  standing  illuminated  by  her  passion,  new  feel- 
ings flashed  upon  him,  a frank  admiration,  a brief 
sparkle  of  desire.  He  noted  both  with  joy;  they 
were  means.  “ If  I have  to  play  the  lover,” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


22J 


thought  he,  for  that  was  his  constant  preoccupa- 
tion, “ I believe  I can  put  soul  into  it.”  Mean- 
while, with  his  usual  ponderous  grace,  he  bent 
before  the  lady. 

“ I propose,”  she  said  in  a strange  voice,  not 
known  to  her  till  then,  “ that  we  release  the  Prince 
and  do  not  prosecute  the  war.” 

“ Ah,  madam,”  he  replied,  “ ?t  is  as  I knew  it 
would  be!  Your  heart,  I knew,  would  wound  you 
when  we  came  to  this  distasteful  but  most  neces- 
sary step.  Ah,  madam,  believe  me,  I am  not  un- 
worthy to  be  your  ally;  I know  you  have  qualities 
to  which  I am  a stranger,  and  count  them  the  best 
weapons  in  the  armoury  of  our  alliance : — the  girl 
in  the  queen  — pity,  love,  tenderness,  laughter;  the 
smile  that  can  reward.  I can  only  command;  I 
am  the  frowner.  But  you ! And  you  have  the 
fortitude  to  command  these  comely  weaknesses,  to 
tread  them  down  at  the  call  of  reason.  Plow 
often  have  I not  admired  it  even  to  yourself ! Ay, 
even  to  yourself,”  he  added,  tenderly,  dwelling,  it 
seemed,  in  memory  on  hours  of  more  private  ad- 
miration. “ But  now,  madam ” 

“ But  now,  Herr  von  Gondremark,  the  time  for 
these  declarations  has  gone  by,”  she  cried.  “ Are 
you  true  to  me?  are  you  false?  Look  in  your 
heart  and  answer ; it  is  your  heart  I want  to 
know.” 


224  PRINCE  OTTO 

“ It  has  come,”  thought  Gondremark.  “ You, 
madam ! ” he  cried,  starting  back  — with  fear,  you 
would  have  said,  and  yet  a timid  joy.  “ You, 
yourself,  you  bid  me  look  into  my  heart?  ” 

“ Do  you  suppose  I fear?  ” she  cried,  and  looked 
at  him  with  such  a heightened  colour,  such  bright 
eyes,  and  a smile  of  so  abstruse  a meaning,  that 
the  Baron  discarded  his  last  doubt. 

“ Ah,  madam ! ” he  cried,  plumping  on  his  knees. 
“Seraphina!  Do  you  permit  me?  have  you  di- 
vined my  secret?  It  is  true  — I put  my  life  with 
joy  into  your  power  — I love  you,  love  with  ar- 
dour, as  an  equal,  as  a mistress,  as  a brother-in- 
arms, as  an  adored,  desired,  sweet-hearted  woman. 
O Bride !”  he  cried,  waxing  dithyrambic,  “ bride 
of  my  reason  and  my  senses,  have  pity,  have  pity 
on  my  love ! ” 

She  heard  him  with  wonder,  rage,  and  then 
contempt.  His  words  offended  her  to  sickness; 
his  appearance,  as  he  grovelled  bulkily  upon  the 
floor,  moved  her  to  such  laughter  as  we  laugh  in 
nightmares. 

“O  shame !”  she  cried.  “ Absurd  and  odious! 
What  would  the  Countess  say?” 

That  great  Baron  Gondremark,  the  excellent 
politician,  remained  for  some  little  time  upon  his 
knees  in  a frame  of  mind  which  perhaps  we  are 
allowed  to  pity.  His  vanity,  within  his  iron  bosom, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


225 

bled  and  raved.  If  he  could  have  blotted  all,  if 
he  could  have  withdrawn  part,  if  he  had  not  called 
her  bride  — with  a roaring  in  his  ears,  he  thus 
regretfully  reviewed  his  declaration.  He  got  to 
his  feet  tottering;  and  then,  in  that  first  moment 
when  a dumb  agony  finds  a vent  in  words,  and 
the  tongue  betrays  the  inmost  and  worst  of  a man, 
he  permitted  himself  a retort  which,  for  six  weeks 
to  follow,  he  was  to  repent  at  leisure. 

“ Ah,”  said  he,  “ the  Countess?  Now  I per- 
ceive the  reason  of  your  Highness’s  disorder.” 

The  lackey-like  insolence  of  the  words  was 
driven  home  by  a more  insolent  manner.  There 
fell  upon  Seraphina  one  of  those  storm-clouds 
which  had  already  blackened  upon  her  reason ; 
she  heard  herself  cry  out;  and  when  the  cloud 
dispersed,  flung  the  blood-stained  dagger  on  the 
floor,  and  saw  Gondremark  reeling  back  with  open 
mouth  and  clapping  his  hand  upon  the  wound. 
The  next  moment,  with  oaths  that  she  had  never 
heard,  he  leaped  at  her  in  savage  passion ; 
clutched  her  as  she  recoiled ; and  in  the  very 
act,  stumbled  and  drooped.  She  had  scarce  time 
to ' fear  his  murderous  onslaught  ere  he  fell  be- 
fore her  feet. 

He  rose  upon  one  elbow ; she  still  staring  upon 
him,  white  with  horror. 

“ Anna ! ” he  cried,  “ Anna ! Help ! ” 

VOL.  V. — 15 


226  PRINCE  OTTO 

And  then  his  utterance  failed  him,  and  he  fell 
back,  to  all  appearance  dead. 

Seraphina  ran  to  and  fro  in  the  room ; she 
wrung  her  hands  and  cried  aloud ; within  she  was 
all  one  uproar  of  terror,  and  conscious  of  no  artic- 
ulate wish  but  to  awake. 

There  came  a knocking  at  the  door;  and  she 
sprang  to  it  and  held  it,  panting  like  a beast,  and 
with  the  strength  of  madness  in  her  arms,  till  she 
had  pushed  the  bolt.  At  this  success  a certain 
calm  fell  upon  her  reason.  She  went  back  and 
looked  upon  her  victim,  the  knocking  growing 
louder.  O yes,  he  was  dead.  She  had  killed  him. 
He  had  called  upon  Von  Rosen  with  his  latest 
breath  ; ah ! who  would  call  on  Seraphina  ? She 
had  killed  him.  She,  whose  irresolute  hand  could 
scarce  prick  blood  from  her  own  bosom,  had  found 
strength  to  cast  down  that  great  colossus  at  a blow. 

All  this  while  the  knocking  was  growing  more 
uproarious  and  more  unlike  the  staid  career  of  life 
in  such  a palace.  Scandal  was  at  the  door,  with 
what  a fatal  following  she  dreaded  to  conceive; 
and  at  the  same  time  among  the  voices  that  now 
began  to  summon  her  by  name,  she  recognised  the 
Chancellor’s.  He  or  another,  somebody  must  be 
the  first. 

“Is  Herr  von  Greisengesang  without?”  she 
called. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


227 

“ Your  Highness  — yes ! ” the  old  gentleman 
answered.  “ We  have  heard  cries,  a fall.  Is  any- 
thing amiss  ? ” 

“ Nothing/’  replied  Seraphina.  “ I desire  to 
speak  with  you.  Send  off  the  rest.”  She  panted 
between  each  phrase ; but  her  mind  was  clear.  She 
let  the  looped  curtain  down  upon  both  sides  before 
she  drew  the  bolt ; and,  thus  secure  from  any  sud- 
den eyeshot  from  without,  admitted  the  obsequious 
Chancellor  and  again  made  fast  the  door. 

Greisengesang  clumsily  revolved  among  the 
wings  of  the  curtain;  so  that  she  was  clear  of 
it  as  soon  as  he. 

“ My  God  ! ” he  cried.  “ The  Baron  ! ” 

“ I have  killed  him,”  she  said.  “ O,  killed  him ! ” 

“ Dear  me,”  said  the  old  gentleman,  “ this  is 
most  unprecedented.  Lovers’  quarrels,”  he  added 
ruefully,  “ redintegratio  — — ” and  then  paused. 
“ But,  my  dear  madam,”  he  broke  out  again,  “ in 
the  name  of  all  that  is  practical,  what  are  we  to 
do?  This  is  exceedingly  grave;  morally,  madam, 
it  is  appalling.  I take  the  liberty,  your  Highness, 
for  one  moment,  of  addressing  you  as  a daughter, 
a loved  although  respected  daughter;  and  I must 
say  that  I cannot  conceal  from  you  that  this  is 
morally  most  questionable.  And,  O dear  me,  we 
have  a dead  body ! ” 

She  had  watched  him  closely;  hope  fell  to  con- 


228 


PRINCE  OTTO 


tempt;  she  drew  away  her  skirts  from  his  weak- 
ness, and,  in  the  act,  her  own  strength  returned  to 
her. 

“ See  if  he  be  dead,”  she  said;  not  one  word  of 
explanation  or  defence;  she  had  scorned  to  justify 
herself  before  so  poor  a creature : “ See  if  he  be 
dead  ” was  ail. 

With  the  greatest  compunction,  the  Chancellor 
drew  near;  and  as  he  did  so  the  wounded  Baron 
rolled  his  eyes. 

“ He  lives,”  cried  the  old  courtier,  turning  effu- 
sively to  Seraphina.  “ Madam,  he  still  lives.” 

“ Help  him,  then,”  returned  the  Princess,  stand- 
ing fixed.  “ Bind  up  his  wounds.” 

“ Madam,  I have  no  means,”  protested  the 
Chancellor. 

“ Can  you  not  take  your  handkerchief,  your 
neck-cloth,  anything  ? ” she  cried ; and  at  the  same 
moment,  from  her  light  muslin  gown  she  rent  off 
a flounce  and  tossed  it  on  the  floor.  “ Take  that,” 
she  said,  and  for  the  first  time  directly  faced 
Greisengesang. 

But  the  Chancellor  held  up  his  hands  and  turned 
away  his  head  in  agony.  The  grasp  of  the  falling 
Baron  had  torn  down  the  dainty  fabric  of  the 
bodice ; and  — “ O Highness ! ” cried  Greisenge- 
sang, appalled,  “ the  terrible  disorder  of  your 
toilette ! ” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


229 

“ Take  up  that  flounce,1 ” she  said;  “ the  man 
may  die.” 

Greisengesang  turned  in  a flutter  to  the  Baron, 
and  attempted  some  innocent  and  bungling  meas- 
ures. “ He  still  breathes,”  he  kept  saying.  “ All 
is  not  yet  over;  he  is  not  yet  gone.” 

“ And  now,”  said  she,  “ if  that  is  all  you  can 
do,  begone  and  get  some  porters ; he  must  instantly 
go  home.” 

“ Madam,”  cried  the  Chancellor,  “ if  this  most 
melancholy  sight  were  seen  in  town  — O dear,  the 
State  would  fall ! ” he  piped. 

“ There  is  a litter  in  the  palace,”  she  replied. 
“ It  is  your  part  to  see  him  safe.  I lay  commands 
upon  you.  On  your  life  it  stands.” 

“ I see  it,  dear  Highness,”  he  jerked.  “ Clearly 
I see  it.  But  how?  what  men?  The  Prince’s  ser- 
vants — yes.  They  had  a personal  affection.  They 
will  be  true,  if  any.” 

“ O,  not  them!”  she  cried.  “ Take  Sabra,  my 
own  man.” 

“ Sabra ! The  grand-mason  ? ” returned  the 
Chancellor,  aghast.  “ If  he  but  saw  this,  he  would 
sound  the  tocsin  — we  should  all  be  butchered.” 

She  measured  the  depth  of  her  abasement 
steadily.  “ Take  whom  you  must,”  she  said,  “ and 
bring  the  litter  here.” 

Once  she  was  alone  she  ran  to  the  Baron,  and 


230 


PRINCE  OTTO 


with  a sickening  heart  sought  to  allay  the  flux  of 
blood.  The  touch  of  the  skin  of  that  great  char- 
latan revolted  her  to  the  toes;  the  wound,  in  her 
ignorant  eyes,  looked  deathly;  yet  she  contended 
with  her  shuddering,  and,  with  more  skill  at  least 
than  the  Chancellor’s,  staunched  the  welling  injury. 
An  eye  unprejudiced  with  hate  would  have  admired 
the  Baron  in  his  swoon ; he  looked  so  great  and 
shapely;  it  was  so  powerful  a machine  that  lay 
arrested ; and  his  features,  cleared  for  the  moment 
both  of  temper  and  dissimulation,  were  seen  to 
be  so  purely  modelled.  But  it  was  not  thus  with 
Seraphina.  Her  victim,  as  he  lay  outspread, 
twitching  a little,  his  big  chest  unbared,  fixed 
her  with  his  ugliness;  and  her  mind  flitted  for 
a glimpse  to  Otto. 

Rumours  began  to  sound  about  the  palace  of 
feet  running  and  of  voices  raised ; the  echoes 
of  the  great  arched  staircase  were  voluble  of 
some  confusion;  and  then  the  gallery  jarred 
with  a quick  and  heavy  tramp.  It  was  the 
Chancellor,  followed  by  four  of  Otto’s  valets 
and  a litter.  The  servants,  when  they  were  ad- 
mitted, stared  at  the  dishevelled  Princess  and 
the  wounded  man;  speech  was  denied  them,  but 
their  thoughts  were  riddled  with  profanity.  Gon- 
dremark  was  bundled  in ; the  curtains  of  the 
litter  were  lowered;  the  bearers  carried  it  forth, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


231 

and  the  Chancellor  followed  behind  with  a white 
face. 

Seraphina  ran  to  the  window.  Pressing  her  face 
upon  the  pane,  she  could  see  the  terrace,  where  the 
lights  contended ; thence,  the  avenue  of  lamps  that 
joined  the  palace  and  town ; and  overhead  the 
hollow  night  and  the  larger  stars.  Presently  the 
small  procession  issued  from  the  palace,  crossed 
the  parade,  and  began  to  thread  the  glittering 
alley : the  swinging  couch  with  its  four  por- 
ters, the  much-pondering  Chancellor  behind.  She 
watched  them  dwindle  with  strange  thoughts : her 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  scene,  her  mind  still  glancing 
right  and  left  on  the  overthrow  of  her  life  and 
hopes.  There  was  no  one  left  in  whom  she  might 
confide ; none  whose  hand  was  friendly,  or  on 
whom  she  dared  to  reckon  for  the  barest  loyalty. 
With  the  fall  of  Gondremark  her  party,  her  brief 
popularity,  had  fallen.  So  she  sat  crouched  upon 
the  window-seat,  her  brow  to  the  cool  pane;  her 
dress  in  tatters,  barely  shielding  her;  her  mind 
revolving  bitter  thoughts. 

Meanwhile,  consequences  were  fast  mounting; 
and  in  the  deceptive  quiet  of  the  night,  downfall 
and  red  revolt  were  brewing.  The  litter  had  passed 
forth  between  the  iron  gates  and  entered  on  the 
streets  of  the  town.  By  what  flying  panic,  by  what 
thrill  of  air  communicated,  who  shall  say?  but  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


232 

passing  bustle  in  the  palace  had  already  reached 
and  re-echoed  in  the  region  of  the  burghers.  Ru- 
mour, with  her  loud  whisper,  hissed  about  the 
town ; men  left  their  homes  without  knowing- 
why;  knots  formed  along  the  boulevard;  under 
the  rare  lamps  and  the  great  limes  the  crowd  grew 
blacker. 

And  now  through  the  midst  of  that  expectant 
company,  the  unusual  sight  of  a closed  litter  was 
observed  approaching,  and  trotting  hard  behind 
it  that  great  dignitary  Cancellarius  Greisengesang. 
Silence  looked  on  as  it  went  by ; and  as  soon  as  it 
was  passed,  the  whispering  seethed  over  like  a 
boiling  pot.  The  knots  were  sundered ; and  grad- 
ually, one  following  another,  the  whole  mob  began 
to  form  into  a procession  and  escort  the  curtained 
litter.  Soon  spokesmen,  a little  bolder  than  their 
mates,  began  to  ply  the  Chancellor  with  questions. 
Never  had  he  more  need  of  that  great  art  of  false- 
hood, by  whose  exercise  he  had  so  richly  lived. 
And  yet  now  he  stumbled,  the  master  passion,  fear, 
betraying  him.  He  was  pressed ; he  became  in- 
coherent; and  then  from  the  jolting  litter  came  a 
groan.  In  the  instant  hubbub  and  the  gathering  of 
the  crowd  as  to  a natural  signal,  the  clear-eyed 
quavering  Chancellor  heard  the  catch  of  the  clock 
before  it  strikes  the  hour  of  doom ; and  for  ten 
seconds  he  forgot  himself.  This  shall  atone  for 


PRINCE  OTTO 


233 


many  sins.  He  plucked  a bearer  by  the  sleeve. 
“ Bid  the  Princess  flee.  All  is  lost,”  he  whispered. 
And  the  next  moment  he  was  babbling  for  his  life 
among  the  multitude. 

Five  minutes  later  the  wild-eyed  servant  burst 
into  the  armoury.  “ All  is  lost!  ” he  cried.  “ The 
Chancellor  bids  you  flee.”  And  at  the  same  time, 
looking  through  the  window,  Seraphina  saw  the 
black  rush  of  the  populace  begin  to  invade  the 
lamplit  avenue. 

“ Thank  you,  Georg,”  she  said.  “ I thank  you. 
Go.”  And  as  the  man  still  lingered,  “ I bid  you 
go,”  she  added.  “ Save  yourself.” 

Down  by  the  private  passage,  and  just  some  two 
hours  later,  Amalia  Seraphina,  the  last  Princess, 
followed  Otto  Johann  Friedrich,  the  last  Prince 
of  Griinewald. 


BOOK  III 


FORTUNATE  MISFORTUNE 


CHAPTER  I 


PRINCESS  CINDERELLA 

THE  porter,  drawn  by  the  growing  tur- 
moil, had  vanished  from  the  postern,  and 
the  door  stood  open  on  the  darkness  of 
the  night.  As  Seraphina  fled  up  the  terraces,  the 
cries  and  loud  footing  of  the  mob  drew  nearer 
the  doomed  palace;  the  rush  was  like  the  rush  of 
cavalry;  the  sound  of  shattering  lamps  tingled 
above  the  rest;  and  overtowering  all,  she  heard 
her  own  name  bandied  among  the  shouters.  A 
bugle  sounded  at  the  door  of  the  guard-room ; one 
gun  was  fired;  and  then,  with  the  yell  of  hun- 
dreds, Mittwalden  Palace  was  carried  at  a rush. 

Sped  by  these  dire  sounds  and  voices,  the  Prin- 
cess scaled  the  long  garden,  skimming  like  a bird 
the  starlit  stairways ; crossed  the  Park,  which  was 
in  that  place  narrow ; and  plunged  upon  the  far- 
ther side  into  the  rude  shelter  of  the  forest.  So, 
at  a bound,  she  left  the  discretion  and  the  cheer- 
ful lamps  of  palace  evenings ; ceased  utterly  to  be 
a sovereign  lady;  and,  falling  from  the  whole 


PRINCE  OTTO 


238 

height  of  civilisation,  ran  forth  into  the  woods,  a 
ragged  Cinderella. 

She  went  direct  before  her  through  an  open 
tract  of  the  forest,  full  of  brush  and  birches,  and 
where  the  starlight  guided  her;  and  beyond  that 
again,  must  thread  the  columned  blackness  of  a 
pine  grove  joining  overhead  the  thatch  of  its  long 
branches.  At  that  hour,  the  place  was  breathless; 
a horror  of  night  like  a presence  occupied  that 
dungeon  of  the  wood ; and  she  went  groping, 
knocking  against  the  boles  — her  ear,  between- 
whiles,  strained  to  aching  and  yet  unrewarded. 

But  the  slope  of  the  ground  was  upward,  and 
encouraged  her ; and  presently  she  issued  on  a 
rocky  hill  that  stood  forth  above  the  sea  of  forest. 
All  around  were  other  hilltops,  big  and  little ; sable 
vales  of  forest  between ; overhead  the  open  heaven 
and  the  brilliancy  of  countless  stars ; and  along  the 
western  sky  the  dim  forms  of  mountains.  The 
glory  of  the  great  night  laid  hold  upon  her;  her 
eyes  shone  with  stars;  she  dipped  her  sight  into 
the  coolness  and  brightness  of  the  sky,  as  she  might 
have  dipped  her  wrist  into  a spring;  and  her  heart, 
at  that  ethereal  shock,  began  to  move  more  so- 
berly. The  sun  that  sails  overhead,  ploughing 
into  gold  the  fields  of  daylight  azure  and  uttering 
the  signal  to  man’s  myriads,  has  no  word  apart  for 
man  the  individual ; and  the  moon,  like  a violin, 


PRINCE  OTTO 


239 


only  praises  and  laments  our  private  destiny.  The 
stars  alone,  cheerful  whisperers,  confer  quietly 
with  each  of  us  like  friends;  they  give  ear  to  our 
sorrows  smilingly,  like  wise  old  men,  rich  in  tol- 
erance; and  by‘  their  double  scale,  so  small  to  the 
eye,  so  vast  to  the  imagination,  they  keep  before  the 
mind  the  double  character  of  man’s  nature  and 
fate. 

There  sate  the  Princess,  beautifully  looking  upon 
beauty,  in  council  with  these  glad  advisers.  Bright 
like  pictures,  clear  like  a voice  in  the  porches  of 
her  ear,  memory  re-enacted  the  tumult  of  the  even- 
ing: The  Countess  and  the  dancing  fan,  the  big 
Baron  on  his  knees,  the  blood  on  the  polished  floor, 
the  knocking,  the  swing  of  the  litter  down  the 
avenue  of  lamps,  the  messenger,  the  cries  of  the 
charging  mob;  and  yet  all  were  far  away  and 
phantasmal,  and  she  was  still  healingly  conscious 
of  the  peace  and  glory  of  the  night.  She  looked 
towards  Mittwalden ; and  above  the  hilltop,  which 
already  hid  it  from  her  view,  a throbbing  redness 
hinted  of  fire.  Better  so : better  so,  that  she  should 
fall  with  tragic  greatness,  lit  by  a blazing  palace! 
She  felt  not  a trace  of  pity  for  Gondremark  or  of 
concern  for  Griinewald : that  period  of  her  life 
was  closed  for  ever,  a wrench  of  wounded  vanity 
alone  surviving.  She  had  but  one  clear  idea : to 
flee;  — and  another,  obscure  and  half  rejected,  al- 


24o  PRINCE  OTTO 

though  still  obeyed : to  flee  in  the  direction  of  the 
Felsenburg.  She  had  a duty  to  perform,  she  must 
free  Otto  — so  her  mind  said,  very  coldly ; but 
her  heart  embraced  the  notion  of  that  duty  even 
with  ardour,  and  her  hands  began  to  yearn  for  the 
grasp  of  kindness. 

She  rose,  with  a start  of  recollection,  and  plunged 
down  the  slope  into  the  covert.  The  woods  re- 
ceived and  closed  upon  her.  Once  more,  she  wan- 
dered and  hasted  in  a blot,  uncheered,  unpiloted. 
Here  and  there,  indeed,  through  rents  in  the  wood- 
roof,  a glimmer  attracted  her;  here  and  there,  a 
tree  stood  out  among  its  neighbours  by  some  force 
of  outline;  here  and  there,  a brushing  among  the 
leaves,  a notable  blackness,  a dim  shine,  relieved, 
only  to  exaggerate,  the  solid  oppression  of  the 
night  and  silence.  And  betweenwhiles,  the  unfea- 
tured darkness  would  redouble  and  the  whole  ear 
of  night  appear  to  be  gloating  on  her  steps.  Now 
she  would  stand  still,  and  the  silence  would  grow 
and  grow,  till  it  weighed  upon  her  breathing ; and 
then  she  would  address  herself  again  to  run, 
stumbling,  falling,  and  still  hurrying  the  more. 
And  presently  the  whole  wood  rocked  and  began 
to  run  along  with  her.  The  noise  of  her  own  mad 
passage  through  the  silence  spread  and  echoed, 
and  filled  the  night  with  terror.  Panic  hunted 
her : Panic  from  the  trees  reached  forth  with  clutch- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


241 


in g branches ; the  darkness  was  lit  up  and  peopled 
with  strange  forms  and  faces.  She  strangled  and 
fled  before  her  fears.  And  yet  in  the  last  fortress, 
reason,  blown  upon  by  these  gusts  of  terror,  still 
shone  with  a troubled  light.  She  knew,  yet  could 
not  act  upon  her  knowledge;  she  knew  that  she 
must  stop,  and  yet  she  still  ran. 

She  was  already  near  madness,  when  she  broke 
suddenly  into  a narrow  clearing.  At  the  same 
time  the  din  grew  louder,  and  she  became  con- 
scious of  vague  forms  and  fields  of  whiteness. 
And  with  that  the  earth  gave  way;  she  fell  and 
found  her  feet  again  with  an  incredible  shock  to 
her  senses,  and  her  mind  was  swallowed  up. 

When  she  came  again  to  herself,  she  was  stand- 
ing to  the  mid-leg  in  an  icy  eddy  of  a brook,  and 
leaning  with  one  hand  on  the  rock  from  which  it 
poured.  The  spray  had  wet  her  hair.  She  saw  the 
white  cascade,  the  stars  wavering  in  the  shaken 
pool,  foam  flitting,  and  high  overhead  the  tall  pines 
on  either  hand  serenely  drinking  starshine;  and  in 
the  sudden  quiet  of  her  spirit,  she  heard  with  joy 
the  firm  plunge  of  the  cataract  in  the  pool.  She 
scrambled  forth  dripping.  In  the  face  of  her  proved 
weakness,  to  adventure  again  upon  the  horror  of 
blackness  in  the  groves  were  a suicide  of  life  or 
reason.  But  here,  in  the  alley  of  the  brook,  with 
the  kind  stars  above  her,  and  the  moon  presently 

VOL.  v.  — 16 


242  PRINCE  OTTO 

swimming  into  sight,  she  could  await  the  coming 
of  day  without  alarm. 

This  lane  of  pine  trees  ran  very  rapidly  down- 
hill and  wound  among  the  woods;  but  it  was  a 
wider  thoroughfare  than  the  brook  needed,  and 
here  and  there  were  little  dimpling  lawns  and  coves 
of  the  forest,  where  the  starshine  slumbered.  Such 
a lawn  she  paced,  taking  patience  bravely;  and 
now  she  looked  up  the  hill  and  saw  the  brook  com- 
ing down  to  her  in  a series  of  cascades;  and  now 
approached  the  margin,  where  it  welled  among  the 
rushes  silently;  and  now  gazed  at  the  great  com- 
pany of  heaven  with  an  enduring  wonder.  The 
early  evening  had  fallen  chill,  but  the  night  was 
now  temperate;  out  of  the  recesses  of  the  wood 
there  came  mild  airs  as  from  a deep  and  peaceful 
breathing;  and  the  dew  was  heavy  on  the  grass 
and  the  tight-shut  daisies.  This  was  the  girl's  first 
night  under  the  naked  heaven ; and  now  that  her 
fears  were  overpast,  she  was  touched  to  the  soul 
by  its  serene  amenity  and  peace.  Kindly  the  host 
of  heaven  blinked  down  upon  that  wandering  Prin- 
cess; and  the  honest  brook  had  no  words  but  to 
encourage  her. 

At  last  she  began  to  be  aware  of  a wonderful 
revolution,  compared  to  which  the  fire  of  Mitt- 
walden  Palace  was  but  the  crack  and  flash  of  a 
percussion  cap.  The  countenance  with  which  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


243 


pines  regarded  her  began  insensibly  to  change ; the 
grass  too,  short  as  it  was,  and  the  whole  winding 
staircase  of  the  brook’s  course,  began  to  wear  a 
solemn  freshness  of  appearance.  And  this  slow 
transfiguration  reached  her  heart,  and  played  upon 
it,  and  transpierced  it  with  a serious  thrill.  She 
looked  all  about;  the  whole  face  of  nature  looked 
back,  brimful  of  meaning,  finger  on  lip,  leaking  its 
glad  secret.  She  looked  up.  Heaven  was  almost 
emptied  of  stars.  Such  as  still  lingered  shone  with 
a changed  and  waning  brightness,  and  began  to 
faint  in  their  stations.  And  the  colour  of  the  sky 
itself  was  the  most  wonderful ; for  the  rich  blue  of 
the  night  had  now  melted  and  softened  and  bright- 
ened; and  there  had  succeeded  in  its  place  a hue 
that  has  no  name,  and  that  is  never  seen  but  as 
the  herald  of  morning.  “ O ! ” she  cried,  joy  catch- 
ing at  her  voice,  “ O ! it  is  the  dawn ! ” 

In  a breath  she  passed  over  the  brook,  and  looped 
up  her  skirts  and  fairly  ran  in  the  dim  alleys.  As 
she  ran,  her  ears  were  aware  of  many  pipings,  more 
beautiful  than  music;  in  the  small  dish-shaped 
houses  in  the  fork  of  giant  arms,  where  they  had 
lain  all  night,  lover  by  lover,  warmly  pressed,  the 
bright-eyed,  big-hearted  singers  began  to  awaken 
for  the  day.  Her  heart  melted  and  flowed  forth 
to  them  in  kindness.  And  they,  from  their  small 
and  high  perches  in  the  clerestories  of  the  wood 


244  PRINCE  OTTO 

cathedral,  peered  down  sidelong  at  the  ragged 
Princess  as  she  flitted  below  them  on  the  carpet  of 
the  moss  and  tassel. 

Soon  she  had  struggled  to  a certain  hilltop,  and 
saw  far  before  her  the  silent  inflooding  of  the  day. 
Out  of  the  East  it  welled  and  whitened ; the  dark- 
ness trembled  into  light  ; and  the  stars  were  ex- 
tinguished like  the  street-lamps  of  a human  city. 
The  whiteness  brightened  into  silver,  the  silver 
warmed  into  gold,  the  gold  kindled  into  pure  and 
living  fire;  and  the  face  of  the  East  was  barred  with 
elemental  scarlet.  The  day  drew  its  first  long 
breath,  steady  and  chill;  and  for  leagues  around 
the  woods  sighed  and  shivered.  And  then,  at  one 
bound,  the  sun  had  floated  up;  and  her  startled 
eyes  received  day’s  first  arrow,  and  quailed  under 
the  buffet.  On  every  side,  the  shadows  leaped 
from  their  ambush  and  fell  prone.  The  day  was 
come,  plain  and  garish ; and  up  the  steep  and 
solitary  eastern  heaven,  the  sun,  victorious  over 
his  competitors,  continued  slowly  and  royally  to 
mount. 

Seraphina  drooped  for  a little,  leaning  on  a 
pine,  the  shrill  joy  of  the  woodlands  mocking  her. 
The  shelter  of  the  night,  the  thrilling  and  joyous 
changes  of  the  dawn,  were  over;  and  now,  in  the 
hot  eye  of  the  day,  she  turned  uneasily  and  looked 
sighingly  about  her.  Some  way  off  among  the 


PRINCE  OTTO 


245 


lower  woods,  a pillar  of  smoke  was  mounting  and 
melting  in  the  gold  and  blue.  There,  surely 
enough,  were  human  folk,  the  hearth-surrounders. 
Man’s  fingers  had  laid  the  twigs;  it  was  man’s 
breath  that  had  quickened  and  encouraged  the  baby 
flames;  and  now,  as  the  fire  caught,  it  would  be 
playing  ruddily  on  the  face  of  its  creator.  At  the 
thought,  she  felt  a-cold  and  little  and  lost  in  that 
great  out-of-doors.  The  electric  shock  of  the 
young  sunbeams  and  the  unhuman  beauty  of  the 
woods  began  to  irk  and  daunt  her.  The  covert  of 
the  house,  the  decent  privacy  of  rooms,  the  swept 
and  regulated  fire,  all  that  denotes  or  beautifies  the 
home  life  of  man,  began  to  draw  her  as  with  cords. 
The  pillar  of  smoke  was  now  risen  into  some 
stream  of  moving  air;  it  began  to  lean  out  side- 
ways in  a pennon;  and  thereupon,  as  though  the 
change  had  been  a summons,  Seraphina  plunged 
once  more  into  the  labyrinth  of  the  wood. 

She  left  day  upon  the  high  ground.  In  the  lower 
groves  there  still  lingered  the  blue  early  twilight 
and  the  seizing  freshness  of  the  dew.  But  here 
and  there,  above  this  field  of  shadow,  the  head  of 
a great  outspread  pine  was  already  glorious  with 
day ; and  here  and  there,  through  the  breaches  of 
the  hills,  the  sunbeams  made  a great  and  luminous 
entry.  Here  Seraphina  hastened  along  forest  paths. 
She  had  lost  sight  of  the  pilot  smoke,  which  blew 


246  PRINCE  OTTO 

another  way,  and  conducted  herself  in  that  great 
wilderness  by  the  direction  of  the  sun.  But  pres- 
ently fresh  signs  bespoke  the  neighbourhood  of 
man;  felled  trunks,  white  slivers  from  the  axe, 
bundles  of  green  boughs,  and  stacks  of  firewood. 
These  guided  her  forward;  until  she  came  forth 
at  last  upon  the  clearing  whence  the  smoke  arose. 
A hut  stood  in  the  clear  shadow,  hard  by  a brook 
which  made  a series  of  inconsiderable  falls ; and  on 
the  threshold,  the  Princess  saw  a sun-burnt  and 
hard-featured  woodman,  standing  with  his  hands 
behind  his  back  and  gazing  skyward. 

She  went  to  him  directly:  a beautiful,  bright- 
eyed, and  haggard  vision;  splendidly  arrayed  and 
pitifully  tattered;  the  diamond  ear-drops  still  glit- 
tering in  her  ears;  and  with  the  movement  of  her 
coming,  one  small  breast  showing  and  hiding 
among  the  ragged  covert  of  the  laces.  At  that  am- 
biguous hour,  and  coming  as  she  did  from  the 
great  silence  of  the  forest,  the  man  drew  back  from 
the  Princess  as  from  something  elfin. 

“ I am  cold,”  she  said,  “ and  weary.  Let  me 
rest  beside  your  fire.” 

The  woodman  was  visibly  commoved,  but  an- 
swered nothing. 

“ I will  pay,”  she  said,  and  then  repented  of  the 
words,  catching  perhaps  a spark  of  terror  from 
his  frightened  eyes.  But,  as  usual,  her  courage 


PRINCE  OTTO 


247 


rekindled  brighter  for  the  check.  She  put  him 
from  the  door  and  entered;  and  he  followed  her 
in  superstitious  wonder. 

Within,  the  hut  was  rough  and  dark;  but  on  the 
stone  that  served  as  hearth,  twigs  and  a few  dry- 
branches  burned  with  the  brisk  sounds  and  all  the 
variable  beauty  of  fire.  The  very  sight  of  it  com- 
posed her ; she  crouched  hard  by  on  the  earth  floor 
and  shivered  in  the  glow,  and  looked  upon  the  eat- 
ing blaze  with  admiration.  The  woodman  was 
still  staring  at  his  guest : at  the  wreck  of  the  rich 
dress,  the  bare  arms,  the  bedraggled  laces  and  the 
gems.  He  found  no  word  to  utter. 

“ Give  me  food,”  said  she,  — “ here,  by  the  fire.” 

He  set  down  a pitcher  of  coarse  wine,  bread,  a 
piece  of  cheese,  and  a handful  of  raw  onions.  The 
bread  was  hard  and  sour,  the  cheese  like  leather; 
even  the  onion,  which  ranks  with  the  truffle  and  the 
nectarine  in  the  chief  place  of  honour  of  earth’s 
fruits,  is  not  perhaps  a dish  for  Princesses  when 
raw.  But  she  ate,  if  not  with  appetite,  with  cour- 
age ; and  when  she  had  eaten,  did  not  disdain  the 
pitcher.  In  all  her  life  before,  she  had  not  tasted  of 
gross  food  nor  drunk  after  another;  but  a brave 
woman  far  more  readily  accepts  a change  of  cir- 
cumstances than  the  bravest  man.  All  that  while, 
the  woodman  continued  to  observe  her  furtively, 
many  low  thoughts  of  fear  and  greed  contending 


248 


PRINCE  OTTO 


in  his  eyes.  She  read  them  clearly,  and  she  knew 
she  must  begone. 

Presently  she  arose  and  offered  him  a florin. 

“ Will  that  repay  you  ? ” she  asked. 

But  here  the  man  found  his  tongue.  “ I must 
have  more  than  that,”  said  he. 

“ It  is  all  I have  to  give  you,”  she  returned,  and 
passed  him  by  serenely. 

Yet  her  heart  trembled,  for  she  saw  his  hand 
.stretched  forth  as  if  to  arrest  her,  and  his  unsteady 
eyes  wandering  to  his  axe.  A beaten  path  led 
westward  from  the  clearing,  and  she  swiftly  fol- 
lowed it.  She  did  not  glance  behind  her.  But  as 
soon  as  the  least  turning  of  the  path  had  concealed 
her  from  the  woodman’s  eyes,  she  slipped  among 
the  trees  and  ran  till  she  deemed  herself  in  safety. 

By  this  time  the  strong  sunshine  pierced  in  a 
thousand  places  the  pine-thatch  of  the  forest,  fired 
the  red  boles,  irradiated  the  cool  isles  of  shadow, 
and  burned  in  jewels  on  the  grass.  The  gum  of 
these  trees  was  dearer  to  the  senses  than  the  gums 
of  Araby;  each  pine,  in  the  lusty  morning  sun- 
light, burned  its  own  wood-incense;  and  now  and 
then  a breeze  would  rise  and  toss  these  rooted  cen- 
sers, and  send  shade  and  sun-gem  flitting,  swift 
as  swallows,  thick  as  bees;  and  wake  a brushing 
bustle  of  sounds  that  murmured  and  went  by. 

On  she  passed,  and  up  and  down,  in  sun  and 


PRINCE  OTTO 


249 

shadow;  now  aloft  on  the  bare  ridge  among  the 
rocks  and  birches,  with  the  lizards  and  the  snakes ; 
and  anon  in  the  deep  grove  among  sunless  pillars. 
Now  she  followed  wandering  wood-paths,  in  the 
maze  of  valleys;  and  again,  from  a hilltop,  beheld 
the  distant  mountains  and  the  great  birds  circling 
under  the  sky.  She  would  see  afar  off  a nestling 
hamlet,  and  go  round  to  avoid  it.  Below,  she 
traced  the  course  of  the  foam  of  mountain  tor- 
rents. Nearer  hand,  she  saw  where  the  tender 
springs  welled  up  in  silence,  or  oozed  in  green 
moss;  or  in  the  more  favoured  hollows  a whole 
family  of  infant  rivers  would  combine,  and  tinkle 
in  the  stones,  and  lie  in  pools  to  be  a bathing-place 
for  sparrows,  or  fall  from  the  sheer  rock  in  rods 
of  crystal.  Upon  all  these  things,  as  she  still  sped 
along  in  the  bright  air,  she  looked  with  a rapture 
of  surprise  and  a joyful  fainting  of  the  heart;  they 
seemed  so  novel,  they  touched  so  strangely  home, 
they  were  so  hued  and  scented,  they  were  so  beset 
and  canopied  by  the  dome  of  the  blue  air  of  heaven. 

At  length,  when  she  was  well  weary,  she  came 
upon  a wide  and  shallow  pool.  Stones  stood  in  it, 
like  islands ; bullrushes  fringed  the  coast ; the  floor 
was  paved  with  the  pine  needles,  and  the  pines 
themselves,  whose  roots  made  promontories,  looked 
down  silently  on  their  green  images.  She  crept  to 
the  margin  and  beheld  herself  with  wonder,  a hoi- 


250 


PRINCE  OTTO 


low  and  bright-eyed  phantom,  in  the  ruins  of  her 
palace  robe.  The  breeze  now  shook  her  image; 
now  it  would  be  marred  with  flies;  and  at  that 
she  smiled ; and  from  the  fading  circles,  her  coun- 
terpart smiled  back  to  her  and  looked  kind.  She 
sat  long  in  the  warm  sun,  and  pitied  her  bare  arms 
that  were  all  bruised  and  marred  with  falling,  and 
marvelled  to  see  that  she  was  dirty,  and  could  not 
grow  to  believe  that  she  had  gone  so  long  in  such 
a strange  disorder. 

Then,  with  a sigh,  she  addressed  herself  to  make 
a toilet  by  that  forest  mirror,  washed  herself  pure 
from  all  the  stains  of  her  adventure,  took  off  her 
jewels  and  wrapped  them  in  her  handkerchief,  re- 
arranged the  tatters  of  her  dress,  and  took  down 
the  folds  of  her  hair.  She  shook  it  round  her  face, 
and  the  pool  repeated  her  thus  veiled.  Her  hair 
had  smelt  like  violets,  she  remembered  Otto  saying ; 
and  so  now  she  tried  to  smell  it,  and  then  shook 
her  head,  and  laughed  a little,  sadly,  to  herself. 

The  laugh  was  returned  upon  her  in  a childish 
echo.  She  looked  up ; and  lo ! two  children  look- 
ing on,  — a small  girl  and  a yet  smaller  boy,  stand- 
ing, like  playthings,  by  the  pool,  below  a spreading 
pine.  Seraphina  was  not  fond  of  children,  and 
now  she  was  startled  to  the  heart. 

“ Who  are  you?  ” she  cried,  hoarsely. 

The  mites  huddled  together  and  drew  back ; and 


PRINCE  OTTO 


251 


Seraphina’s  heart  reproached  her  that  she  should 
have  frightened  things  so  quaint  and  little,  and 
yet  alive  with  senses.  She  thought  upon  the  birds 
and  looked  again  at  her  two  visitors ; so  little  larger 
and  so  far  more  innocent.  On  their  clear  faces,  as 
in  a pool,  she  saw  the  reflection  of  their  fears. 
With  gracious  purpose  she  arose. 

“ Come,”  she  said,  “ do  not  be  afraid  of  me,” 
and  took  a step  towards  them. 

But  alas  ! at  the  first  moment,  the  two  poor  babes 
in  the  wood  turned  and  ran  helter-skelter  from  the 
Princess. 

The  most  desolate  pang  was  struck  into  the  girl’s 
heart.  Here  she  was,  twenty-two  — soon  twenty- 
three  — and  not  a creature  loved  her ; none  but 
Otto;  and  would  even  he  forgive?  If  she  began 
weeping  in  these  woods  alone,  it  would  mean  death 
or  madness.  Hastily  she  trod  the  thoughts  out  like 
a burning  paper;  hastily  rolled  up  her  locks,  and 
with  terror  dogging  her,  and  her  whole  bosom  sick 
with  grief,  resumed  her  journey. 

Past  ten  in  the  forenoon,  she  struck  a highroad, 
marching  in  that  place  up-hill  between  two  stately 
groves,  a river  of  sunlight ; and  here,  dead  weary, 
careless  of  consequences,  and  taking  some  courage 
from  the  human  and  civilised  neighbourhood  of  the 
road,  she  stretched  herself  on  the  green  margin  in 
the  shadow  of  a tree.  Sleep  closed  on  her,  at  first 


252  PRINCE  OTTO 

with  a horror  of  fainting,  but  when  she  ceased  to 
struggle,  kindly  embracing  her.  So  she  was  taken 
home  for  a little,  from  all  her  toils  and  sorrows,  to 
her  Father’s  arms.  And  there  in  the  meanwhile 
her  body  lay  exposed  by  the  highway-side,  in  tat- 
tered finery;  and  on  either  hand  from  the  woods 
the  birds  came  flying  by  and  calling  upon  others, 
and  debated  in  their  own  tongue  this  strange 
appearance. 

The  sun  pursued  his  journey  ; the  shadow  flitted 
from  her  feet,  shrank  higher  and  higher,  and  was 
upon  the  point  of  leaving  her  altogether,  when  the 
rumble  of  a coach  was  signalled  to  and  fro  by 
the  birds.  The  road  in  that  part  was  very  steep; 
the  rumble  drew  near  with  great  deliberation ; and 
ten  minutes  passed  before  a gentleman  appeared, 
walking  with  a sober  elderly  gait  upon  the  grassy 
margin  of  the  highway,  and  looking  pleasantly 
around  him  as  he  walked.  From  time  to  time  he 
paused,  took  out  his  note-book  and  made  an  entry 
with  a pencil ; and  any  spy  who  had  been  near 
enough  would  have  heard  him  mumbling  words  as 
though  he  were  a poet  testing  verses.  The  voice 
of  the  wheels  was  still  faint,  and  it  was  plain  the 
traveller  had  far  outstripped  his  carriage. 

He  had  drawn  very  near  to  where  the  Princess 
lay  asleep,  before  his  eye  alighted  on  her ; but  when 
it  did  he  started,  pocketed  his  note-book,  and  ap- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


253 


proached.  There  was  a mile-stone  close  to  where 
she  lay ; and  he  sat  down  on  that  and  coolly 
studied  her.  She  lay  upon  one  side,  all  curled 
and  sunken,  her  brow  on  one  bare  arm,  the  other 
stretched  out,  limp  and  dimpled.  Her  young  body, 
like  a thing  thrown  down,  had  scarce  a mark  of 
life.  Her  breathing  stirred  her  not.  The  deadliest 
fatigue  was  thus  confessed  in  every  language  of 
the  sleeping  flesh.  The  traveller  smiled  grimly. 
As  though  he  had  looked  upon  a statue,  he  made 
a grudging  inventory  of  her  charms : the  figure 
in  that  touching  freedom  of  forgetfulness  surprised 
him ; the  flush  of  slumber  became  her  like  a flower. 

“ Upon  my  word,”  he  thought,  “ I did  not  think 
the  girl  could  be  so  pretty.  And  to  think,”  he 
added,  “ that  I am  under  obligation  not  to  use 
one  word  of  this ! ” 

He  put  forth  his  stick  and  touched  her;  and  at 
that  she  awoke,  sat  up  with  a cry,  and  looked  upon 
him  wildly. 

“ I trust  your  Highness  has  slept  well,”  he  said, 
nodding. 

But  she  only  uttered  sounds. 

“ Compose  yourself,”  said  he,  giving  her  cer- 
tainly a brave  example  in  his  own  demeanour. 
“ My  chaise  is  close  at  hand ; and  I shall  have, 
I trust,  the  singular  entertainment  of  abducting  a 
sovereign  Princess.” 


254 


PRINCE  OTTO 


“ Sir  John!  ” she  said,  at  last. 

“ At  your  Highness’s  disposal,”  he  replied. 

She  sprang  to  her  feet.  “ O,”  she  cried,  “ have 
you  come  from  Mittwalden?” 

“ This  morning,”  he  returned,  “I  left  it;  and 
if  there  is  any  one  less  likely  to  return  to  it  than 
yourself,  behold  him ! ” 

“ The  Baron ” she  began,  and  paused. 

“ Madam,”  he  answered,  “ it  was  well  meant, 
and  you  are  quite  a Judith;  but  after  the  hours 
that  have  elapsed,  you  will  probably  be  relieved  to 
hear  that  he  is  fairly  well.  I took  his  news  this 
morning  ere  I left.  Doing  fairly  well,  they  said, 
but  suffering  acutely.  Hey?  — acutely.  They 
could  hear  his  groans  in  the  next  room.” 

“ And  the  Prince,”  she  asked,  “ is  anything 
known  of  him  ? ” 

“ It  is  reported,”  replied  Sir  John,  with  the  same 
pleasurable  deliberation,  “ that  upon  that  point  your 
Highness  is  the  best  authority.” 

“ Sir  John,”  she  said  eagerly,  “ you  were  gener- 
ous enough  to  speak  about  your  carriage.  Will 
you,  I beseech  you,  will  you  take  me  to  the  Fel- 
senburg?  I have  business  there  of  an  extreme 
importance.” 

“ I can  refuse  you  nothing,”  replied  the  old 
gentleman,  gravely  and  seriously  enough.  “ What- 
ever, madam,  it  is  in  my  power  to  do  for  you,  that 


PRINCE  OTTO 


255 


shall  be  clone  with  pleasure.  As  soon  as  my  chaise 
shall  overtake  us,  it  is  yours  to  carry  you  where 
you  will.  But,”  added  he,  reverting*  to  his  former 
manner,  “ I observe  you  ask  me  nothing  of  the 
palace.” 

“ I do  not  care,”  she  said.  “ I thought  I saw  it 
burning.” 

“ Prodigious ! ” said  the  Baronet.  “ You 
thought  ? And  can  the  loss  of  forty  toilettes 
leave  you  cold?  Well,  madam,  I admire  your 
fortitude.  And  the  state,  too?  As  I left,  the 
government  was  sitting,  — the  new  government, 
of  which  at  least  two  members  must  be  known  to 
you  by  name : Sabra,  who  had,  I believe,  the 
benefit  of  being  formed  in  your  employment  — a 
footman,  — am  I right  ? — and  our  old  friend  the 
Chancellor,  in  something  of  a subaltern  position. 
But  in  these  convulsions,  the  last  shall  be  first  and 
the  first  last.” 

“ Sir  John,”  she  said,  with  an  air  of  perfect 
honesty,  “ I am  sure  you  mean  most  kindly,  but 
these  matters  have  no  interest  for  me.” 

The  Baronet  was  so  utterly  discountenanced, 
that  he  hailed  the  appearance  of  his  chaise  with 
welcome,  and,  by  way  of  saying  something,  pro- 
posed that  they  should  walk  back  to  meet  it.  So 
it  was  done;  and  he  helped  her  in  with  courtesy, 
mounted  to  her  side,  and  from  various  receptacles 


PRINCE  OTTO 


256 

(for  the  chaise  was  most  completely  fitted  out) 
produced  fruits  and  truffled  liver,  beautiful  white 
bread,  and  a bottle  of  delicate  wine.  With  these 
he  served  her  like  a father,  coaxing  and  praising 
her  to  fresh  exertions;  and  during  all  that  time, 
as  though  silenced  by  the  laws  of  hospitality,  he 
was  not  guilty  of  the  shadow  of  a sneer.  Indeed 
his  kindness  seemed  so  genuine  that  Seraphina  was 
moved  to  gratitude. 

“ Sir  John,”  she  said,  “ you  hate  me  in  your 
heart;  why  are  you  so  kind  to  me?” 

“ Ah,  my  good  lady,”  said  he,  with  no  disclaimer 
of  the  accusation,  “ I have  the  honour  to  be  much 
your  husband’s  friend,  and  somewhat  his  admirer.” 

“ You!  ” she  cried.  “ They  told  me  you  wrote 
cruelly  of  both  of  us.” 

“ Such  was  the  strange  path  by  which  we  grew 
acquainted,”  said  Sir  John.  “ I had  written, 
madam,  with  particular  cruelty  (since  that  shall 
be  the  phrase)  of  your  fair  self.  Your  husband 
set  me  at  liberty,  gave  me  a passport,  ordered  a 
carriage,  and  then,  with  the  most  boyish  spirit, 
challenged  me  to  fight.  Knowing  the  nature  of 
his  married  life,  I thought  the  dash  and  loyalty 
he  showed  delightful.  . ‘ Do  not  be  afraid,’  says 
he;  ‘ if  I am  killed,  there  is  nobody  to  miss  me.’ 
It  appears  you  subsequently  thought  of  that  your- 
self. But  I digress.  I explained  to  him  it  was 


PRINCE  OTTO 


257 


impossible  that  I could  fight!  ‘ Not  if  I strike 
you?’  says  he.  Very  droll;  I wish  I could  have 
put  it  in  my  book.  However,  I was  conquered, 
took  the  young  gentleman  to  my  high  favour,  and 
tore  up  my  bits  of  scandal  on  the  spot.  That  is 
one  of  the  little  favours,  madam,  that  you  owe 
your  husband/’ 

Seraphina  sat  for  some  while  in  silence.  She 
could  bear  to  be  misjudged  without  a pang  by 
those  whom  she  contemned ; she  had  none  of 
Otto’s  eagerness  to  be  approved,  but  went  her  own 
way  straight  and  head  in  air.  To  Sir  John,  how- 
ever, after  what  he  had  said,  and  as  her  hus- 
band’s friend,  she  was  prepared  to  stoop. 

“ What  do  you  think  of  me?”  she  asked 
abruptly. 

“ I have  told  you  already,”  said  Sir  John : “ I 
think  you  want  another  glass  of  my  good  wine.” 

“ Come,”  she  said,  “ this  is  unlike  you.  You 
are  not  wont  to  be  afraid.  You  say  that  you 
admire  my  husband : in  his  name,  be  honest.” 

“ I admire  your  courage,”  said  the  Baronet. 
“ Beyond  that,  as  you  have  guessed,  and  indeed 
said,  our  natures  are  not  sympathetic.” 

“ You  spoke  of  scandal,”  pursued  Seraphina. 
“ Was  the  scandal  great?” 

“ It  was  considerable,”  said  Sir  John. 

“ And  you  believed  it?  ” she  demanded. 

VOT..  V.  17 


PRINCE  OTTO 


258 

“ O,  madam,”  said  Sir  John,  “ the  question ! ” 

“ Thank  you  for  that  answer ! ” cried  Seraphina. 
“ And  now  here,  I will  tell  you,  upon  my  honour, 
upon  my  soul,  in  spite  of  all  the  scandal  in  this 
world,  I am  as  true  a wife  as  ever  stood.” 

“We  should  probably  not  agree  upon  a defini- 
tion,” observed  Sir  John. 

“ O ! ” she  cried,  “ I have  abominably  used  him 
— I know  that ; it  is  not  that  I mean.  But  if 
you  admire  my  husband,  I insist  that  you  shall 
understand  me : I can  look  him  in  the  face  with- 
out a blush.” 

“ It  may  be,  madam,”  said  Sir  John;  “ nor  have 
I presumed  to  think  the  contrary.” 

“You  will  not  believe  me?”  she  cried.  “You 
think  I am  a guilty  wife?  You  think  he  was  my 
lover?” 

“ Madam,”  returned  the  Baronet,  “ when  I tore 
up  my  papers,  I promised  your  good  husband  to 
concern  myself  no  more  with  your  affairs;  and  I 
assure  you  for  the  last  time  that  I have  no  desire 
to  judge  you.” 

“ But  you  will  not  acquit  me ! Ah ! ” she  cried, 
“ he  will  — he  knows  me  better ! ” 

Sir  John  smiled. 

“ You  smile  at  my  distress?  ” asked  Seraphina. 

“ At  your  woman’s  coolness,”  said  Sir  John. 
“ A man  would  scarce  have  had  the  courage  of 


PRINCE  OTTO 


259 


that  cry,  which  was,  for  all  that,  very  natural,  and 
I make  no  doubt  quite  true.  But  remark,  madam 
— since  you  do  me  the  honour  to  consult  me 
gravely  — I have  no  pity  for  what  you  call  your 
distresses.  You  have  been  completely  selfish,  and 
now  reap  the  consequence.  Had  you  once  thought 
of  your  husband,  instead  of  singly  thinking  of 
yourself,  you  would  not  now  have  been  alone,  a 
fugitive,  with  blood  upon  your  hands,  and  hearing 
from  a morose  old  Englishman  truth  more  bitter 
than  scandal. ” 

“ I thank  you,”  she  said,  quivering.  “ This  is 
very  true.  Will  you  stop  the  carriage?” 

“ No,  child,”  said  Sir  John,  “ not  until  I see  you 
mistress  of  yourself.” 

There  was  a long  pause,  during  which  the  car- 
riage rolled  by  rock  and  woodland. 

“ And  now,”  she  resumed,  with  perfect  steadi- 
ness, “ will  you  consider  me  composed  ? I request 
you,  as  a gentleman,  to  let  me  out.” 

“ I think  you  do  unwisely,”  he  replied.  “ Con- 
tinue, if  you  please,  to  use  my  carriage.” 

“ Sir  John,”  she  said,  “ if  death  were  sitting  on 
that  pile  of  stones,  I would  alight ! I do  not  blame, 
I thank  you ; I now  know  how  I appear  to  others ; 
but  sooner  than  draw  breath  beside  a man  who 

can  so  think  of  me,  I would O ! ” she  cried, 

and  was  silent. 


i6o 


PRINCE  OTTO 


Sir  John  pulled  the  string,  alighted,  and  offered 
her  his  hand ; but  she  refused  the  help. 

The  road  had  now  issued  from  the  valleys  in 
which  it  had  been  winding,  and  come  to  that  part 
of  its  course  where  it  runs,  like  a cornice,  along  the 
brow  of  the  steep  northward  face  of  Griinewald. 
The  place  where  they  had  alighted  was  at  a salient 
angle;  a bold  rock  and  some  wind-tortured  pine- 
trees  overhung  it  from  above;  far  below  the  blue 
plains  lay  forth  and  melted  into  heaven  ; and  be- 
fore them  the  road,  by  a succession  of  bold  zig- 
zags, was  seen  mounting  to  where  a tower  upon 
a tall  cliff  closed  the  view. 

“ There,”  said  the  Baronet,  pointing  to  the 
tower,  “ you  see  the  Felsenburg,  your  goal.  I 
wish  you  a good  journey,  and  regret  I cannot  be 
of  more  assistance.” 

He  mounted  to  his  place  and  gave  a signal,  and 
the  carriage  rolled  away. 

Seraphina  stood  by  the  wayside,  gazing  before 
her  with  blind  eyes.  Sir  John  she  had  dismissed 
already  from  her  mind : she  hated  him,  that  was 
enough;  for  whatever  Seraphina  hated  or  con- 
temned fell  instantly  to  Lilliputian  smallness,  and 
was  thenceforward  steadily  ignored  in  thought. 
And  now  she  had  matter  for  concern  indeed.  Her 
interview  with  Otto,  which  she  had  never  yet  for- 
given him,  began  to  appear  before  her  in  a very 


PRINCE  OTTO 


261 


different  light.  He  had  come  to  her,  still  thrilling 
under  recent  insult,  and  not  yet  breathed  from 
fighting  her  own  cause;  and  how  that  knowledge 
changed  the  value  of  his  words ! Yes,  he  must 
have  loved  her ; this  was  a brave  feeling  — it 
was  no  mere  weakness  of  the  will.  And  she,  was 
she  incapable  of  love?  It  would  appear  so;  and 
she  swallowed  her  tears,  and  yearned  to  see  Otto, 
to  explain  all,  to  ask  pity  upon  her  knees  for  her 
transgressions,  and,  if  all  else  were  now  beyond 
the  reach  of  reparation,  to  restore  at  least  the  lib- 
erty of  which  she  had  deprived  him. 

Swiftly  she  sped  along  the  highway,  and,  as  the 
road  wound  out  and  in  about  the  bluffs  and  gullies 
of  the  mountain,  saw  and  lost  by  glimpses  the  tall 
tower  that  stood  before  and  above  her,  purpled  by 
the  mountain  air. 


CHAPTER  II 


TREATS  OF  A CHRISTIAN  VIRTUE 

WHEN  Otto  mounted  to  his  rolling 
prison,  he  found  another  occupant  in 
a corner  of  the  front  seat;  but  as  this 
person  hung  his  head  and  the  brightness  of  the 
carriage  lamps  shone  outward,  the  Prince  could 
only  see  it  was  a man.  The  Colonel  followed  his 
prisoner  and  clapped  to  the  door;  and  at  that  the 
four  horses  broke  immediately  into  a swinging 
trot. 

“ Gentlemen,”  said  the  Colonel,  after  some  little 
while  had  passed,  “ if  we  are  to  travel  in  silence, 
we  might  as  well  be  at  home.  I appear,  of  course, 
in  an  invidious  character ; but  I am  a man  of  taste, 
fond  of  books  and  solidly  informing  talk,  and  un- 
fortunately condemned  for  life  to  the  guardroom. 
Gentlemen,  this  is  my  chance:  don’t  spoil  it  for 
me.  I have  here  the  pick  of  the  whole  Court,  bar- 
ring lovely  woman;  I have  a great  author  in  the 

person  of  the  Doctor ” 

“ Gotthold ! ” cried  Otto. 

“ It  appears,”  said  the  Doctor,  bitterly,  “ that 


PRINCE  OTTO  263 

we  must  go  together.  Your  Highness  had  not 
calculated  upon  that/’ 

“ What  do  you  infer?  ” cried  Otto;  “ that  I had 
you  arrested?  ” 

“ The  inference  is  simple,”  said  the  Doctor. 

“ Colonel  Gordon,”  said  the  Prince,  “ oblige  me 
so  far,  and  set  me  right  with  Herr  von  Hohen- 
stockwitz.” 

“ Gentlemen,”  said  the  Colonel,  “ you  are  both 
arrested  on  the  same  warrant  in  the  name  of  the 
Princess  Seraphina,  acting  regent,  countersigned 
by  Prime  Minister  Freiherr  von  Gondremark,  and 
dated  the  day  before  yesterday,  the  twelfth.  I re- 
veal to  you  the  secrets  of  the  prison  house,”  he 
added. 

“ Otto,”  said  Gotthold,  “ I ask  you  to  pardon 
my  suspicions.” 

“ Gotthold,”  said  the  Prince,  “ I am  not  certain 
I can  grant  you  that.” 

“ Your  Highness  is,  I am  sure,  far  too  magnani- 
mous to  hesitate,”  said  the  Colonel.  “ But  allow 
me : we  speak  at  home  in  my  religion  of  the  means 
of  grace;  and  I now  propose  to  offer  them.”  So 
saying,  the  Colonel  lighted  a bright  lamp  which  he 
attached  to  one  side  of  the  carriage,  and  from  be- 
low the  front  seat  produced  a goodly  basket  adorned 
with  the  long  necks  of  bottles.  “ Tu  spem  reducis 
— how  does  it  go,  Doctor?”  he  asked  gaily.  “I 


PRINCE  OTTO 


264 

am,  in  a sense,  your  host;  and  I am  sure  you  are 
both  far  too  considerate  of  my  embarrassing  posi- 
tion to  refuse  to  do  me  honour.  Gentlemen,  I 
drink  to  the  Prince ! ” 

“ Colonel,”  said  Otto,  “ we  have  a jovial  enter- 
tainer. I drink  to  Colonel  Gordon.” 

Thereupon  all  three  took  their  wine  very  pleas- 
antly ; and  even  as  they  did  so,  the  carriage  with  a 
lurch  turned  into  the  highroad  and  began  to  make 
better  speed. 

All  was  bright  within;  the  wine  had  coloured 
Gotthold’s  cheek ; dim  forms  of  forest  trees,  dwin- 
dling and  spiring,  scarves  of  the  starry  sky,  now 
wide  and  now  narrow,  raced  past  the  windows; 
through  one  that  was  left  open  the  air  of  the  woods 
came  in  with  a nocturnal  raciness;  and  the  roll  of 
wheels  and  the  tune  of  the  trotting  horses  sounded 
merrily  on  the  ear.  Toast  followed  toast;  glass 
after  glass  was  bowed  across  and  emptied  by  the 
trio;  and  presently  there  began  to  fall  upon  them 
a luxurious  spell,  under  the  influence  of  which  little 
but  the  sound  of  quiet  and  confidential  laughter  in- 
terrupted the  long  intervals  of  meditative  silence. 

“ Otto,”  said  Gotthold,  after  one  of  these  seasons 
of  quiet,  “ I do  not  ask  you  to  forgive  me.  Were 
the  parts  reversed,  I could  not  forgive  you.” 

“ Well,”  said  Otto,  “ it  is  a phrase  we  use.  I 
do  forgive  you,  but  your  words  and  your  suspicions 


PRINCE  OTTO  265 

rankle;  and  not  yours  alone.  It  is  idle,  Colonel 
Gordon,  in  view  of  the  order  you  are  carrying  out, 
to  conceal  from  you  the  dissensions  of  my  family; 
they  have  gone  so  far  that  they  are  now  public 
property.  Well,  gentlemen,  can  I forgive  my  wife? 
I can,  of  course,  and  do;  but  in  what  sense?  I 
would  certainly  not  stoop  to  any  revenge;  as  cer- 
tainly I could  not  think  of  her  but  as  one  changed 
beyond  my  recognition." 

“ Allow  me,"  returned  the  Colonel.  “ You  will 
permit  me  to  hope  that  I am  addressing  Christians  ? 
We  are  all  conscious,  I trust,  that  we  are  miserable 
sinners." 

“ I disown  the  consciousness,"  said  Gotthold. 
“ Warmed  with  this  good  fluid,  I deny  your 
thesis." 

u How,  sir?  You  never  did  anything  wrong? 
and  I heard  you  asking  pardon  but  this  moment, 
not  of  your  God,  sir,  but  of  a common  fellow- 
worm  ! " the  Colonel  cried. 

“ I own  you  have  me ; you  are  expert  in  argu- 
ment, Herr  Oberst,"  said  the  Doctor. 

“ Begad,  sir,  I am  proud  to  hear  you  say  so," 
said  the  Colonel.  “ I was  well  grounded  indeed 
at  Aberdeen.  And  as  for  this  matter  of  forgive- 
ness, it  comes,  sir,  of  loose  views  and  (what  is  if 
anything  more  dangerous)  a regular  life.  A sound 
creed  and  a bad  morality,  that 's  the  root  of  wis- 


266  PRINCE  OTTO 

dom.  You  two  gentlemen  are  too  good  to  be 
forgiving.” 

“ The  paradox  is  somewhat  forced,”  said  Gott- 
hold. 

“ Pardon  me,  Colonel,”  said  the  Prince;  “I 
readily  acquit  you  of  any  design  of  offence,  but 
your  words  bite  like  satire.  Is  this  a time,  do  you 
think,  when  I can  wish  to  hear  myself  called  good, 
now  that  I am  paying  the  penalty  (and  am  willing 
like  yourself  to  think  it  just)  of  my  prolonged 
misconduct?  ” 

“ O,  pardon  me!”  cried  the  Colonel.  “ You 
have  never  been  expelled  from  the  divinity  hall ; you 
have  never  been  broke.  I was : broke  for  a neglect 
of  military  duty.  To  tell  you  the  open  truth,  your 
Highness,  I was  the  worse  of  drink;  it's  a thing 
I never  do  now,”  he  added,  taking  out  his  glass. 
“ But  a man,  you  see,  who  has  really  tasted  the 
defects  of  his  own  character,  as  I have,  and  has 
come  to  regard  himself  as  a kind  of  blind  teetotum 
knocking  about  life,  begins  to  learn  a very  differ- 
ent view  about  forgiveness.  I will  talk  of  not 
forgiving  others,  sir,  when  I have  made  out  to 
forgive  myself,  and  not  before;  and  the  date  is 
like  to  be  a long  one.  My  father,  the  Reverend 
Alexander  Gordon,  was  a good  man,  and  damned 
hard  upon  others.  I am  what  they  call  a bad 
one,  and  that  is  just  the  difference.  The  man 


PRINCE  OTTO  267 

who  cannot  forgive  any  mortal  thing  is  a green 
hand  in  life/’ 

“ And  yet  I have  heard  of  you,  Colonel,  as  a 
duellist/’  said  Gotthold. 

“ A different  thing,  sir,”  replied  the  soldier. 
“ Professional  etiquette.  And  I trust  without  un- 
christian feeling.” 

Presently  after  the  Colonel  fell  into  a deep 
sleep ; and  his  companions  looked  upon  each  other, 
smiling. 

“ An  odd  fish,”  said  Gotthold. 

“ And  a^  strange  guardian,”  said  the  Prince. 
“ Yet  what  he  said  was  true.” 

“ Rightly  looked  upon,”  mused  Gotthold,  “ it 
is  ourselves  that  we  cannot  forgive,  when  we  re- 
fuse forgiveness  to  our  friend.  Some  strand  of 
our  own  misdoing  is  involved  in  every  quarrel.” 

“ Are  there  not  offences  that  disgrace  the  par- 
doner?” asked  Otto.  “ Are  there  not  bounds  of 
self-respect?  ” 

“ Otto,”  said  Gotthold,  “ does  any  man  respect 
himself?  To  this  poor  waif  of  a soldier  of  fortune 
we  may  seem  respectable  gentlemen;  but  to  our- 
selves, what  are  we  unless  a pasteboard  portico  and 
a deliquium  of  deadly  weaknesses  within?” 

“ I ? yes,”  said  Otto ; “ but  you,  Gotthold  — you, 
with  your  interminable  industry,  your  keen  mind, 
your  books  — serving  mankind,  scorning  pleasures 


268 


PRINCE  OTTO 


and  temptations!  You  do  not  know  how  I envy 
you.” 

“ Otto,”  said  the  Doctor,  “ in  one  word,  and  a 
bitter  one  to  say:  I am  a secret  tippler.  Yes,  I 
drink  too  much.  The  habit  has  robbed  these  very 
books,  to  which  you  praise  my  devotion,  of  the 
merits  that  they  should  have  had.  It  has  spoiled 
my  temper.  When  I spoke  to  you  the  other  day, 
how  much  of  my  warmth  was  in  the  cause  of 
virtue?  how  much  was  the  fever  of  last  night's 
wine?  Ay,  as  my  poor  fellow-sot  there  said,  and 
as  I vaingloriously  denied,  we  are  all  miserable 
sinners,  put  here  for  a moment,  knowing  the  good, 
choosing  the  evil,  standing  naked  and  ashamed  in 
the  eye  of  God.” 

“ Is  it  so?  ” said  Otto.  “ Why,  then,  what  are 
we  ? Are  the  very  best ” 

“ There  is  no  best  in  man,”  said  Gotthold.  “ I 
am  not  better,  it  is  likely  I am  not  worse,  than  you 
or  that  poor  sleeper.  I was  a sham,  and  now  you 
know  me:  that  is  all.” 

“ And  yet  it  has  not  changed  my  love,”  returned 
Otto,  softly.  “ Our  misdeeds  do  not  change  us. 
Gotthold,  fill  your  glass.  Let  us  drink  to  what  is 
good  in  this  bad  business;  let  us  drink  to  our  old 
afifection;  and,  when  we  have  done  so,  forgive 
your  too  just  grounds  of  offence,  and  drink  with 
me  to  my  wife,  whom  I have  so  misused,  who  has 


PRINCE  OTTO  269 

so  misused  me,  and  whom  I have  left,  I fear,  I 
greatly  fear,  in  danger.  What  matters  it  how  bad 
we  are,  if  others  can  still  love  us,  and  we  can  still 
love  others  ? ” 

“ Ay ! ” replied  the  Doctor.  “ It  is  very  well 
said.  It  is  the  true  answer  to  the  pessimist, 
and  the  standing  miracle  of  mankind.  So  you 
still  love  me?  and  so  you  can  forgive  your 
wife  ? Why,  then,  we  may  bid  conscience 
‘ Down,  dog/  like  an  ill-trained  puppy  yapping 
at  shadows.” 

The  pair  fell  into  silence,  the  Doctor  tapping  on 
his  empty  glass. 

The  carriage  swung  forth  out  of  the  valleys  on 
that  open  balcony  of  highroad  that  runs  along  the 
front  of  Griinewald,  looking  down  on  Gerolstein. 
Far  below,  a white  waterfall  was  shining  to  the 
stars  from  the  falling  skirts  of  forest,  and  beyond 
that,  the  night  stood  naked  above  the  plain.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  lamplight  skimmed  the  face  of 
the  precipices,  and  the  dwarf  pine-trees  twinkled 
with  all  their  needles,  and  were  gone  again  into 
the  wake.  The  granite  roadway  thundered  under 
wheels  and  hoofs;  and  at  times,  by  reason  of  its 
continual  winding,  Otto  could  see  the  escort  on  the 
other  side  of  a ravine,  riding  well  together  in  the 
night.  Presently  the  Felsenburg  came  plainly  in 
view,  some  way  above  them,  on  a bold  projection 


270  PRINCE  OTTO 

of  the  mountain,  and  planting  its  bulk  against  the 
starry  sky. 

“ See,  Gotthold,”  said  the  Prince,  “ our  destina- 
tion.” 

Gotthold  awoke  as  from  a trance. 

“ I was  thinking,”  said  he,  “ if  there  is  danger, 
why  did  you  not  resist?  I was  told  you  came  of 
your  free  will;  but  should  you  not  be  there  to 
help  her?” 

The  colour  faded  from  the  Prince’s  cheeks. 


CHAPTER  III 


PROVIDENCE  VON  ROSEN:  ACT  THE  LAST: 
IN  WHICH  SHE  GALLOPS  OFF 

WHEN  the  busy  Countess  came  forth 
from  her  interview  with  Seraphina,  it 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  she  was 
beginning  to  be  terribly  afraid.  She  paused  in  the 
corridor  and  reckoned  up  her  doings  with  an  eye 
to  Gondremark.  The  fan  was  in  requisition  in 
an  instant;  but  her  disquiet  was  beyond  the  reach 
of  fanning.  “ The  girl  has  lost  her  head,”  she 
thought ; and  then  dismally,  “ I have  gone  too 
far.”  She  instantly  decided  on  secession.  Now 
the  Mons  Sacer  of  the  Frau  von  Rosen  was  a cer- 
tain rustic  villa  in  the  forest,  called  by  herself,  in 
a smart  attack  of  poesy,  Tannen-Zauber,  and  by 
everybody  else  plain  Kleinbrunn. 

Thither,  upon  the  thought,  she  furiously  drove, 
passing  Gondremark  at  the  entrance  to  the  palace 
avenue,  but  feigning  not  to  observe  him;  and  as 
Kleinbrunn  was  seven  good  miles  away  and  in  the 
bottom  of  a narrow  dell,  she  passed  the  night  with- 
out any  rumour  of  the  outbreak  reaching  her ; and 


272  PRINCE  OTTO 

the  glow  of  the  conflagration  was  concealed  by  in- 
tervening hills.  Frau  von  Rosen  did  not  sleep 
well;  she  was  seriously  uneasy  as  to  the  results 
of  her  delightful  evening,  and  saw  herself  con- 
demned to  quite  a lengthy  sojourn  in  her  deserts 
and  a long  defensive  correspondence,  ere  she  could 
venture  to  return  to  Gondremark.  On  the  other 
hand,  she  examined,  by  way  of  pastime,  the  deeds 
she  had  received  from  Otto;  and  even  here  saw 
cause  for  disappointment.  In  these  troublous  days 
she  had  no  taste  for  landed  property,  and  she  was 
convinced,  besides,  that  Otto  had  paid  dearer  than 
the  farm  was  worth.  Lastly,  the  order  for  the 
prince’s  release  fairly  burned  her  meddling  fingers.  5 

All  things  considered,  the  next  day  beheld  an 
elegant  and  beautiful  lady,  in  a riding-habit  and 
a flapping  hat,  draw  bridle  at  the  gate  of  the 
Felsenburg,  not  perhaps  with  any  clear  idea  of  her 
purpose,  but  with  her  usual  experimental  views  on  j 
life.  Governor  Gordon,  summoned  to  the  gate, 
welcomed  the  omnipotent  Countess  with  his  most  i 
gallant  bearing,  though  it  was  wonderful  how  old 
he  looked  in  the  morning. 

“ Ah,  Governor,”  she  said,  “ we  have  surprises 
for  you,  sir,”  and  nodded  at  him  meaningly. 

“ Eh,  madam,  leave  me  my  prisoners,”  he  said; 

“ and  if  you  will  but  join  the  band,  begad,  I ’ll  be 
happy  for  life.” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


2 73 

“ You  would  spoil  me,  would  you  not?”  she 
asked. 

“ I would  try,  I would  try,”  returned  the  Gov- 
ernor,  and  he  offered  her  his  arm. 

She  took  it,  picked  up  her  skirt,  and  drew  him 
close  to  her.  “ I have  come  to  see  the  Prince,” 
she  said.  “ Now,  infidel ! on  business.  A message 
from  that  stupid  Gondremark,  who  keeps  me  run- 
ning like  a courier.  Do  I look  like  one,  Herr 
Gordon?”  And  she  planted  her  eyes  on  him. 

“ You  look  like  an  angel,  ma’am,”  returned  the 
Governor,  with  a great  air  of  finished  gallantry. 

The  Countess  laughed.  “ An  angel  on  horse- 
back!” she  said.  “ Quick  work.” 

“ You  came,  you  saw,  you  conquered,”  flour- 
ished Gordon,  in  high  good  humour  with  his  own 
wit  and  grace.  a We  toasted  you,  madam,  in  the 
carriage,  in  an  excellent  good  glass  of  wine ; toasted 
you  fathom  deep;  the  finest  woman,  with,  begad, 
the  finest  eyes  in  Griinewald.  I never  saw  the  like 
of  them  but  once,  in  my  own  country,  when  I was 
a young  fool  at  College:  Thomasina  Haig,  her 
name  was.  I give  you  my  word  of  honour,  she 
was  as  like  you  as  two  peas.” 

“And  so  you  were  merry  in  the  carriage?” 
asked  the  Countess,  gracefully  dissembling  a yawn. 

“We  were;  we  had  a very  pleasant  conversa- 
tion; but  we  took  perhaps  a glass  more  than  that 

VOL.  V.  — 1 8 


274 


PRINCE  OTTO 


fine  fellow  of  a Prince  has  been  accustomed  to,” 
said  the  Governor;  “and  I observe  this  morning 
that  he  seems  a little  off  his  mettle.  We  ’ll  get 
him  mellow  again  ere  bedtime.  This  is  his  door.” 

“ Well,”  she  whispered,  “ let  me  get  my  breath. 
No,  no;  wait.  Have  the  door  ready  to  open.” 
And  the  Countess,  standing  like  one  inspired,  shook 
out  her  fine  voice  in  “ Lascia  ch’  io  pianga ; ” and 
when  she  had  reached  the  proper  point,  and  lyri- 
cally uttered  forth  her  sighings  after  liberty,  the 
door,  at  a sign,  was  flung  wide  open,  and  she  swam 
into  the  Prince’s  sight,  bright-eyed,  and  with  her 
colour  somewhat  freshened  by  the  exercise  of  sing- 
ing. It  was  a great  dramatic  entrance,  and  to  the 
somewhat  doleful  prisoner  within  the  sight  was 
sunshine. 

“ Ah,  madam,”  he  cried,  running  to  her  — “ you 
here!” 

She  looked  meaningly  at  Gordon;  and  as  soon 
as  the  door  was  closed  she  fell  on  Otto’s  neck. 
“ To  see  you  here ! ” she  moaned  and  clung  to 
him. 

But  the  Prince  stood  somewhat  stiffly  in  that 
enviable  situation,  and  the  Countess  instantly  re- 
covered from  her  outburst. 

“ Poor  child,”  she  said,  “ poor  child ! Sit  down 
beside  me  here,  and  tell  me  all  about  it.  My  heart 
really  bleeds  to  see  you.  How  does  time  go?  ” 


PRINCE  OTTO  275 

“ Madam/’  replied  the  Prince,  sitting  down  be- 
side her,  his  gallantry  recovered,  “ the  time  will 
now  go  all  too  quickly  till  you  leave.  But  I must 
ask  you  for  the  news.  I have  most  bitterly  con- 
demned myself  for  my  inertia  of  last  night.  You 
wisely  counselled  me;  it  was  my  duty  to  resist. 
You  wisely  and  nobly  counselled  me;  I have  since 
thought  of  it  with  wonder.  You  have  a noble 
heart.” 

“ Otto,”  she  said,  “ spare  me.  Was  it  even  right, 
I wonder  ? I have  duties,  too,  you  poor  child ; and 
when  I see  you  they  all  melt  — all  my  good  resolu- 
tions fly  away.” 

“ And  mine  still  come  too  late,”  he  replied,  sigh- 
ing. “ O,  what  would  I not  give  to  have  resisted  ? 
What  would  I not  give  for  freedom  ? ” 

“ Well,  what  would  you  give?  ” she  asked;  and 
the  red  fan  was  spread;  only  her  eyes,  as  if  from 
over  battlements,  brightly  surveyed  him. 

“ I ? What  do  you  mean  ? Madam,  you  have 
some  news  for  me,”  he  cried. 

“0,0!  ” said  madam,  dubiously. 

He  was  at  her  feet.  “ Do  not  trifle  with  my 
hopes,”  he  pleaded.  “ Tell  me,  dearest  Madame 
von  Rosen,  tell  me!  You  cannot  be  cruel: 
it  is  not  in  your  nature.  Give  ? I can  give 
nothing;  I have  nothing;  I can  only  plead  in 
mercy.” 


PRINCE  OTTO 


276 

“ Do  not,”  she  said ; “ it  is  not  fair.  Otto,  you 
know  my  weakness.  Spare  me.  Be  generous.” 

“ O,  madam,”  he  said,  “ it  is  for  you  to  be 
generous,  to  have  pity.”  He  took  her  hand  and 
pressed  it;  he  plied  her  with  caresses  and  appeals. 
The  Countess  had  a most  enjoyable  sham  siege, 
and  then  relented.  She  sprang  to  her  feet,  she 
tore  her  dress  open,  and,  all  warm  from  her  bosom, 
threw  the  order  on  the  floor. 

“ There ! ” she  cried.  “ I forced  it  from  her. 
Use  it,  and  I am  ruined ! ” And  she  turned  away 
as  if  to  veil  the  force  of  her  emotions. 

Otto  sprang  upon  the  paper,  read  it,  and  cried 
out  aloud.  “ O,  God  bless  her ! ” he  said,  “ God 
bless  her.”  And  he  kissed  the  writing. 

Von  Rosen  was  a singularly  good-natured  wo- 
man, but  her  part  was  now  beyond  her.  “ In- 
grate ! ” she  cried ; “ I wrung  it  from  her,  I betrayed 
my  trust  to  get  it,  and ’t  is  she  you  thank ! ” 

“ Can  you  blame  me?  ” said  the  Prince.  “ I love 
her.” 

“ I see  that,”  she  said.  “ And  I?  ” 

“ You,  Madame  von  Rosen?  You  are  my  dear- 
est, my  kindest,  and  most  generous  of  friends,”  he 
said,  approaching  her.  “ You  would  be  a perfect 
friend,  if  you  were  not  so  lovely.  You  have  a 
great  sense  of  humour,  you  cannot  be  unconscious 
of  your  charm,  and  you  amuse  yourself  at  times 


PRINCE  OTTO 


277 


by  playing  on  my  weakness;  and  at  times  I can 
take  pleasure  in  the  comedy.  But  not  to-day : to- 
day you  will  be  the  true,  the  serious,  the  manly 
friend,  and  you  will  suffer  me  to  forget  that  you 
are  lovely  and  that  I am  weak.  Come,  dear 
Countess,  let  me  to-day  repose  in  you  entirely.” 

He  held  out  his  hand,  smiling,  and  she  took  it 
frankly. 

“ I vow  you  have  bewitched  me,”  she  said ; and 
then  with  a laugh,  “ I break  my  staff ! ” she  added ; 
“ and  I must  pay  you  my  best  compliment.  You 
made  a difficult  speech.  You  are  as  adroit,  dear 
Prince,  as  I am  — charming.”  And  as  she  said 
the  word  with  a great  curtsey,  she  justified  it. 

“ You  hardly  keep  the  bargain,  madam,  when 
you  make  yourself  so  beautiful,”  said  the  Prince, 
bowing. 

“ It  was  my  last  arrow,”  she  returned.  “ I am 
disarmed.  Blank  cartridge,  O mon  Prince!  And 
now  I tell  you,  if  you  choose  to  leave  this  prison, 
you  can,  and  I am  ruined.  Choose!  ” 

“ Madame  von  Rosen,”  replied  Otto,  “ I choose, 
and  I will  go.  My  duty  points  me,  duty  still 
neglected  by  this  Featherhead.  But  do  not  fear 
to  be  a loser.  I propose  instead  that  you  should 
take  me  with  you,  a bear  in  chains,  to  Baron 
Gondremark.  I am  become  perfectly  unscrupu- 
lous: to  save  my  wife  I will  do  all,  all  he  can  ask 


PRINCE  OTTO 


278 

or  fancy.  He  shall  be  filled;  were  he  huge  as 
leviathan  and  greedy  as  the  grave,  I will  content 
him.  And  you,  the  fairy  of  our  pantomime,  shall 
have  the  credit.” 

“Done!”  she  cried.  “Admirable!  Prince 
Charming  no  longer  — Prince  Sorcerer,  Prince 
Solon ! Let  us  go  this  moment.  Stay,”  she  cried, 
pausing.  “ I beg,  dear  Prince,  to  give  you  back 
these  deeds.  ’T  was  you  who  liked  the  farm  — I 
have  not  seen  it;  and  it  was  you  who  wished  to 
benefit  the  peasants.  And,  besides,”  she  added, 
with  a comical  change  of  tone,  “ I should  prefer 
the  ready  money.” 

Both  laughed.  “ Here  I am,  once  more  a 
farmer,”  said  Otto,  accepting  the  papers,  “ but 
overwhelmed  in  debt.” 

The  Countess  touched  a bell,  and  the  Governor 
appeared. 

“ Governor,”  she  said,  “ I am  going  to  elope 
with  his  Highness.  The  result  of  our  talk  has 
been  a thorough  understanding,  and  the  coup  d’etat 
is  over.  Here  is  the  order.” 

Colonel  Gordon  adjusted  silver  spectacles  upon 
his  nose.  “ Yes,”  he  said,  “ the  Princess : very 
right.  But  the  warrant,  madam,  was  counter- 
signed.” 

“ By  Heinrich ! ” said  Von  Rosen.  “ Well,  and 
here  am  I to  represent  him.” 


PRINCE  OTTO  279 

“ Well,  your  Highness/’  resumed  the  soldier 
of  fortune,  “ I must  congratulate  you  upon  my 
loss.  You  have  been  cut  out  by  beauty,  and  I 
am  left  lamenting.  The  Doctor  still  remains  to 
me:  probus , doctus,  lepidus,  jucundus:  a man  of 
books.” 

“ Ay,  there  is  nothing  about  poor  Gotthold,” 
said  the  Prince. 

“ The  Governor’s  consolation?  Would  you  leave 
him  bare?  ” asked  Von  Rosen. 

“ And,  your  Highness,”  resumed  Gordon,  “ may 
I trust  that  in  the  course  of  this  temporary  obscura- 
tion, you  have  found  me  discharge  my  part  with 
suitable  respect  and,  I may  add,  tact?  I adopted 
purposely  a cheerfulness  of  manner;  mirth,  it  ap- 
peared to  me,  and  a good  glass  of  wine,  were  the 
fit  alleviations.” 

“ Colonel,”  said  Otto,  holding  out  his  hand, 
“ your  society  was  of  itself  enough.  I do  not 
merely  thank  you  for  your  pleasant  spirits ; I have 
to  thank  you,  besides,  for  some  philosophy,  of 
which  I stood  in  need.  I trust  I do  not  see  you 
for  the  last  time;  and  in  the  meanwhile,  as  a 
memento  of  our  strange  acquaintance,  let  me  offer 
you  these  verses  on  which  I was  but  now  engaged. 
I am  so  little  of  a poet,  and  was  so  ill  inspired  by 
prison  bars,  that  they  have  some  claim  to  be  at 
least  a curiosity.” 


28o 


PRINCE  OTTO 


The  Colonel’s  countenance  lighted  as  he  took  the 
paper ; the  silver  spectacles  were  hurriedly  replaced. 
“ Ha ! ” he  said,  “ Alexandrines,  the  tragic  metre. 
I shall  cherish  this,  your  Highness,  like  a relic; 
no  more  suitable  offering,  although  I say  it,  could 
be  made.  ‘ Dieux  de  Timmense  plaine  et  des  vastes 
forets.’  Very  good,”  he  said,  “ very  good  indeed! 
4 Et  du  geolier  lui-meme  apprendre  des  legons.’ 
Most  handsome,  begad ! ” 

“ Come,  Governor,”  cried  the  Countess,  “ you 
can  read  his  poetry  when  we  are  gone.  Open 
your  grudging  portals.” 

“ I ask  your  pardon,”  said  the  Colonel.  “ To  a 
man  of  my  character  and  tastes,  these  verses,  this 
handsome  reference  — most  moving,  I assure  you. 
Can  I offer  you  an  escort?” 

“ No,  no,”  replied  the  Countess.  “ We  go  in- 
cogniti,  as  we  arrived.  We  ride  together;  the 
Prince  will  take  my  servant’s  horse.  Hurry  and 
privacy,  Herr  Oberst,  that  is  all  we  seek.”  And 
she  began  impatiently  to  lead  the  way. 

But  Otto  had  still  to  bid  farewell  to  Doctor  Gott- 
hold ; and  the  Governor  following,  with  his  spec- 
tacles in  one  hand  and  the  paper  in  the  other,  had 
still  to  communicate  his  treasured  verses,  piece  by 
piece,  as  he  succeeded  in  deciphering  the  manu- 
script, to  all  he  came  across  ; and  still  his  enthu- 
siasm mounted.  “ I declare,”  he  cried  at  last,  with 


PRINCE  OTTO 


28 1 

the  air  of  one  who  has  at  length  divined  a mys- 
tery, “ they  remind  me  of  Robbie  Burns ! " 

But  there  is  an  end  to  all  things;  and  at  length 
Otto  was  walking  by  the  side  of  Madame  von 
Rosen,  along  that  mountain  wall,  her  servant  fol- 
lowing with  both  the  horses,  and  all  about  them 
sunlight,  and  breeze,  and  flying  bird,  and  the  vast 
regions  of  the  air,  and  the  capacious  prospect: 
wildwood  and  climbing  pinnacle,  and  the  sound 
and  voice  of  mountain  torrents,  at  their  hand : 
and  far  below  them,  green  melting  into  sapphire 
on  the  plains. 

They  walked  at  first  in  silence ; for  Otto's  mind 
was  full  of  the  delight  of  liberty  and  nature,  and 
still,  betweenwhiles,  he  was  preparing  his  inter- 
view with  Gondremark.  But  when  the  first  rough 
promontory  of  the  rock  was  turned,  and  the  Fel- 
senburg  concealed  behind  its  bulk,  the  lady  paused. 

“ Here,"  she  said,  “ I will  dismount  poor  Karl, 
and  you  and  I must  ply  our  spurs.  I love  a wild 
ride  with  a good  companion." 

As  she  spoke,  a carriage  came  into  sight  round 
the  corner  next  below  them  in  the  order  of  the 
road.  It  came  heavily  creaking,  and  a little  ahead 
of  it  a traveller  was  soberly  walking,  note-book  in 
hand. 

“ It  is  Sir  John,"  cried  Otto,  and  he  hailed  him. 

The  Baronet  pocketed  his  note-book,  stared 


282 


PRINCE  OTTO 


through  an  eye-glass,  and  then  waved  his  stick; 
and  he  on  his  side,  and  the  Countess  and  the 
Prince  on  theirs,  advanced  with  somewhat  quicker 
steps.  They  met  at  the  reentrant  angle,  where  a 
thin  stream  strayed  across  a boulder  and  was  scat- 
tered in  rain  among  the  brush;  and  the  Baronet 
saluted  the  Prince  with  much  punctilio.  To  the 
Countess,  on  the  other  hand,  he  bowed  with  a kind 
of  sneering  wonder. 

“ Is  it  possible,  madam,  that  you  have  not  heard 
the  news  ? ” he  asked. 

“ What  news?  ” she  cried. 

“ News  of  the  first  order,”  returned  Sir  John: 
“ a revolution  in  the  State,  a Republic  declared, 
the  palace  burned  to  the  ground,  the  Princess  in 
flight,  Gondremark  wounded ” 

“ Heinrich  wounded  ? ” she  screamed. 

“ Wounded  and  suffering  acutely,”  said  Sir 
John.  “ His  groans ” 

There  fell  from  the  lady's  lips  an  oath  so  potent 
that,  in  smoother  hours,  it  would  have  made  her 
hearers  jump.  She  ran  to  her  horse,  scrambled  to 
the  saddle,  and,  yet  half  seated,  dashed  down  the 
road  at  full  gallop.  The  groom,  after  a pause  of 
wonder,  followed  her.  The  rush  of  her  impetu- 
ous passage  almost  scared  the  carriage  horses  over 
the  verge  of  the  steep  hill;  and  still  she  clattered 
further,  and  the  crags  echoed  to  her  flight,  and  still 


PRINCE  OTTO  283 

the  groom  flogged  vainly  in  pursuit  of  her.  At  the 
fourth  corner,  a woman  trailing  slowly  up  leaped 
back  with  a cry  and  escaped  death  by  a hand's- 
breadth.  But  the  Countess  wasted  neither  glance 
nor  thought  upon  the  incident.  Out  and  in,  about 
the  bluffs  of  the  mountain  wall,  she  fled,  loose- 
reined,  and  still  the  groom  toiled  in  her  pursuit. 

“ A most  impulsive  lady ! ” said  Sir  John.  “ Who 
would  have  thought  she  cared  for  him  ? ” And 
before  the  words  were  uttered,  he  was  struggling 
in  the  Prince's  grasp. 

“ My  wife!  the  Princess?  What  of  her?  " 

“ She  is  down  the  road,"  he  gasped.  “ I left 
her  twenty  minutes  back." 

And  next  moment,  the  choked  author  stood 
alone,  and  the  Prince  on  foot  was  racing  down 
the  hill  behind  the  Countess. 


CHAPTER  IV 


BABES  IN  THE  WOOD 

WHILE  the  feet  of  the  Prince  continued 
to  run  swiftly,  his  heart,  which  had  at 
first  by  far  outstripped  his  running, 
soon  began  to  linger  and  hang  back.  Not  that  he 
ceased  to  pity  the  misfortune  or  to  yearn  for  the 
sight  of  Seraphina;  but  the  memory  of  her  ob- 
durate coldness  awoke  within  him,  and  woke  in 
turn  his  own  habitual  diffidence  of  self.  Had  Sir 
John  been  given  time  to  tell  him  all,  had  he  even 
known  that  she  was  speeding  to  the  Felsenburg, 
he  would  have  gone  to  her  with  ardour.  As  it 
was,  he  began  to  see  himself  once  more  intruding, 
profiting,  perhaps,  by  her  misfortune,  and  now 
that  she  was  fallen,  proffering  unloved  caresses  to 
the  wife  who  had  spurned  him  in  prosperity.  The 
sore  spots  upon  his  vanity  began  to  burn;  once 
more,  his  anger  assumed  the  carriage  of  a hostile 
generosity;  he  would  utterly  forgive  indeed;  he 
would  help,  save,  and  comfort  his  unloving  wife; 
but  all  with  distant  self-denial,  imposing  silence 
on  his  heart,  respecting  Seraphina’s  disaffection  as 


PRINCE  OTTO  285 

he  would  the  innocence  of  a child.  So,  when  at 
length  he  turned  a corner  and  beheld  the  Princess, 
it  was  his  first  thought  to  reassure  her  of  the  purity 
of  his  respect,  and  he  at  once  ceased  running  and 
stood  still.  She,  upon  her  part,  began  to  run  to 
him  with  a little  cry;  then,  seeing  him  pause,  she 
paused  also,  smitten  with  remorse;  and  at  length, 
with  the  most  guilty  timidity,  walked  nearly  up  to 
where  he  stood. 

“ Otto,”  she  said,  “ I have  ruined  all ! ” 

“ Seraphina ! ” he  cried  with  a sob,  but  did  not 
move,  partly  withheld  by  his  resolutions,  partly 
struck  stupid  at  the  sight  of  her  weariness  and 
disorder.  Had  she  stood  silent,  they  had  soon 
been  locked  in  an  embrace.  But  she  too  had  pre- 
pared herself  against  the  interview,  and  must  spoil 
the  golden  hour  with  protestations. 

“ All ! ” she  went  on,  “ I have  ruined  all ! But, 
Otto,  in  kindness  you  must  hear  me  — not  justify, 
but  own,  my  faults.  I have  been  taught  so  cruelly ; 
I have  had  such  time  for  thought,  and  see  the 
world  so  changed.  I have  been  blind,  stone  blind ; 
I have  let  all  true  good  go  by  me,  and  lived  on 
shadows.  But  when  this  dream  fell,  and  I had 

betrayed  you,  and  thought  I had  killed ” She 

paused.  “ I thought  I had  killed  Gondremark,” 
she  said  with  a deep  flush,  “ and  I found  myself 
alone  as  you  said.” 


286 


PRINCE  OTTO 


The  mention  of  the  name  of  Gondremark  pricked 
the  Prince’s  generosity  like  a spur.  “ Well,”  he 
cried,  “ and  whose  fault  was  it  but  mine  ? It  was 
my  duty  to  be  beside  you,  loved  or  not.  But  I 
was  a skulker  in  the  grain,  and  found  it  easier  to 
desert  than  to  oppose  you.  I could  never  learn 
that  better  part  of  love,  to  fight  love’s  battles.  But 
yet  the  love  was  there.  And  now  when  this  toy 
kingdom  of  ours  has  fallen,  first  of  all  by  my  de- 
merits, and  next  by  your  inexperience,  and  we  are 
here  alone  together,  as  poor  as  Job  and  merely  a 
man  and  a woman  — let  me  conjure  you  to  for-  ' 
give  the  weakness  and  to  repose  in  the  love.  Do 
not  mistake  me ! ” he  cried,  seeing  her  about  to 
speak,  and  imposing  silence  with  uplifted  hand. 

“ My  love  is  changed ; it  is  purged  of  any  con- 
jugal pretension;  it  does  not  ask,  does  not  hope, 
does  not  wish,  for  a return  in  kind.  You  may 
forget  for  ever  that  part  in  which  you  found  me 
so  distasteful,  and  accept  without  embarrassment  •) 
the  affection  of  a brother.” 

“ You  are  too  generous,  Otto,”  she  said.  “ I 
know  that  I have  forfeited  your  love.  I cannot 
take  this  sacrifice.  You  had  far  better  leave  me. 

O go  away,  and  leave  me  to  my  fate ! ” 

“ O no ! ” said  Otto ; “ we  must  first  of  all  . escape 
out  of  this  hornet’s  nest,  to  which  I led  you.  My 
honour  is  engaged.  I said  but  now  we  were  as 


PRINCE  OTTO 


287 


poor  as  Job;  and  behold!  not  many  miles  from 
here  I have  a house  of  my  own  to  which  I will 
conduct  you.  Otto  the  Prince  being  down,  we 
must  try  what  luck  remains  to  Otto  the  Hunter. 
Come,  Seraphina;  show  that  you  forgive  me,  and 
let  us  set  about  this  business  of  escape  in  the  best 
spirits  possible.  You  used  to  say,  my  dear,  that, 
except  as  a husband  and  a prince,  I was  a pleas- 
ant fellow.  I am  neither  now,  and  you  may  like 
my  company  without  remorse.  Come,  then;  it 
were  idle  to  be  captured.  Can  you  still  walk? 
Forth,  then,”  said  he,  and  he  began  to  lead  the 
way. 

A little  below  where  they  stood,  a good-sized 
brook  passed  below  the  road,  which  overleapt  it 
in  a single  arch.  On  one  bank  of  that  loquacious 
water  a footpath  descended  a green  dell.  Here  it 
was  rocky  and  stony,  and  lay  on  the  steep  scarps 
of  the  ravine;  here  it  was  choked  with  brambles; 
and  there,  in  fairy  haughs,  it  lay  for  a few  paces 
evenly  on  the  green  turf.  Like  a sponge,  the  hill- 
side oozed  with  well-water.  The  burn  kept  grow- 
ing both  in  force  and  volume ; at  every  leap  it  fell 
with  heavier  plunges  and  span  more  widely  in 
the  pool.  Great  had  been  the  labours  of  that 
stream,  and  great  and  agreeable  the  changes  it 
had  wrought.  It  had  cut  through  dykes  of  stub- 
born rock,  and  now,  like  a blowing  dolphin,  spouted 


288 


PRINCE  OTTO 


through  the  orifice;  along  all  its  humble  coasts, 
it  had  undermined  and  rafted-down  the  goodlier 
timber  of  the  forest ; and  on  these  rough  clearings 
it  now  set  and  tended  primrose  gardens,  and 
planted  woods  of  willow,  and  made  a favourite  of 
the  silver  birch.  Through  all  these  friendly  fea- 
tures the  path,  its  human  acolyte,  conducted  our 
two  wanderers  downward,  — Otto  before,  still 
pausing  at  the  more  difficult  passages  to  lend  as- 
sistance; the  Princess  following.  From  time  to 
time,  when  he  turned  to  help  her,  her  face  would 
lighten  upon  his  — her  eyes,  half  desperately,  woo 
him.  He  saw,  but  dared  not  understand.  “ She 
does  not  love  me,”  he  told  himself,  with  magna- 
nimity. “ This  is  remorse  or  gratitude ; I were  no 
gentleman,  no,  nor  yet  a man,  if  I presumed  upon 
these  pitiful  concessions. ” 

Some  way  down  the  glen,  the  stream,  already 
grown  to  a good  bulk  of  water,  was  rudely 
dammed  across,  and  about  a third  of  it  abducted 
in  a wooden  trough.  Gaily  the  pure  water,  air’s 
first  cousin,  fleeted  along  the  rude  aqueduct, 
whose  sides  and  floor  it  had  made  green  with 
grasses.  The  path,  bearing  it  close  company, 
threaded  a wilderness  of  brier  and  wild  rose. 
And  presently,  a little  in  front,  the  brown  top 
of  a mill  and  the  tall  mill-wheel,  spraying  dia- 
monds, arose  in  the  narrows  of  the  glen;  at  the 


PRINCE  OTTO  289 

same  time  the  snoring  music  of  the  saws  broke 
the  silence. 

The  miller,  hearing  steps,  came  forth  to  his  door, 
and  both  he  and  Otto  started. 

“ Good-morning,  miller/’  said  the  Prince.  “ You 
were  right,  it  seems,  and  I was  wrong.  I give  you 
the  news,  and  bid  you  to  Mittwalden.  My  throne 
has  fallen  — great  was  the  fall  of  it ! — and  your 
good  friends  of  the  Phoenix  bear  the  rule.” 

The  red-faced  miller  looked  supreme  astonish- 
ment. “ And  your  Highness  ? ” he  gasped. 

“ My  Highness  is  running  away,”  replied  Otto, 
“ straight  for  the  frontier.” 

“ Leaving  Griinewald?  ” cried  the  man.  “ Your 
father’s  son?  It’s  not  to  be  permitted!” 

“ Do  you  arrest  us,  friend  ? ” asked  Otto,  smiling. 
“ Arrest  you?  I?  ” exclaimed  the  man.  “ For 
what  does  your  Highness  take  me?  Why,  sir,  I 
make  sure  there  is  not  a man  in  Griinewald  would 
lay  hands  upon  you.” 

“ O,  many,  many,”  said  the  Prince;  “ but  from 
you,  who  were  bold  with  me  in  my  greatness,  I 
should  even  look  for  aid  in  my  distress.” 

The  miller  became  the  colour  of  beetroot.  “ You 
may  say  so  indeed,”  said  he.  “ And  meanwhile, 
will  you  and  your  lady  step  into  my  house?” 

“ We  have  not  time  for  that,”  replied  the  Prince ; 
“ but  if  you  would  oblige  us  with  a cup  of  wine 

VOL.  V.  — 19 


290  prince  otto 

without  here,  you  will  give  a pleasure  and  a ser- 
vice, both  in  one.” 

The  miller  once  more  coloured  to  the  nape.  He 
hastened  to  bring  forth  wine  in  a pitcher  and  three 
bright  crystal  tumblers.  “ Your  Highness  must 
not  suppose,”  he  said,  as  he  filled  them,  “ that  I 
am  an  habitual  drinker.  The  time  when  I had  the 
misfortune  to  encounter  you,  I was  a trifle  over- 
taken, I allow ; but  a more  sober  man  than  I am 
in  my  ordinary,  I do  not  know  where  you  are  to 
look  for;  and  even  this  glass  that  I drink  to  you 
(and  to  the  lady)  is  quite  an  unusual  recreation.” 

The  wine  was  drunk  with  due  rustic  courtesies; 
and  then,  refusing  further  hospitality,  Otto  and 
Seraphina  once  more  proceeded  to  descend  the  glen, 
which  now  began  to  open  and  to  be  invaded  by  the 
taller  trees. 

“ I owed  that  man  a reparation,”  said  the  Prince ; 
“ for  when  we  met  I was  in  the  wrong  and  put  a 
sore  affront  upon  him.  I judge  by  myself,  per- 
haps ; but  I begin  to  think  that  no  one  is  the  better 
for  a humiliation.” 

“ But  some  have  to  be  taught  so,”  she  replied. 

“ Well,  well,”  he  said,  with  a painful  embarrass- 
ment. “ Well,  well.  But  let  us  think  of  safety. 
My  miller  is  all  very  good,  but  I do  not  pin  my 
faith  to  him.  To  follow  down  this  stream  will 
bring  us,  but  after  innumerable  windings,  to  my 


PRINCE  OTTO 


291 


house.  Here,  up  this  glade,  there  lies  a cross-cut 
— the  world’s  end  for  solitude  — the  very  deer 
scarce  visit  it.  Are  you  too  tired,  or  could  you 
pass  that  way?  ” 

“ Choose  the  path,  Otto.  I will  follow  you/’  she 
said. 

“ No,”  he  replied,  with  a singular  imbecility  of 
manner  and  appearance,  “ but  I meant  the  path 
was  rough.  It  lies,  all  the  way,  by  glade  and 
dingle,  and  the  dingles  are  both  deep  and  thorny.” 

“ Lead  on,”  she  said.  “ Are  you  not  Otto  the 
Hunter?  ” 

They  had  now  burst  across  a veil  of  underwood, 
and  were  come  into  a lawn  among  the  forest,  very 
green  and  innocent,  and  solemnly  surrounded  by 
trees.  Otto  paused  on  the  margin,  looking  about 
him  with  delight ; then  his  glance  returned  to 
Seraphina,  as  she  stood  framed  in  that  sylvan 
pleasantness  and  looking  at  her  husband  with  un- 
decipherable eyes.  A weakness  both  of  the  body 
and  mind  fell  on  him  like  the  beginnings  of  sleep; 
the  cords  of  his  activity  were  relaxed,  his  eyes 
clung  to  her.  “ Let  us  rest,”  he  said ; and  he  made 
her  sit  down,  and  himself  sat  down  beside  her  on 
the  slope  of  an  inconsiderable  mound. 

She  sat  with  her  eyes  downcast,  her  slim  hand 
dabbling  in  grass,  like  a maid  waiting  for  love’s 
summons.  The  sound  of  the  wind  in  the  forest 


292 


PRINCE  OTTO 


swelled  and  sank,  and  drew  near  them  with  a 
running  rush,  and  died  away  and  away  in  the  dis- 
tance into  fainting  whispers.  Nearer  hand,  a bird 
out  of  the  deep  covert  uttered  broken  and  anxious 
notes.  All  this  seemed  but  a halting  prelude  to 
speech.  To  Otto  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  frame 
of  nature  were  waiting  for  his  words ; and  yet  his 
pride  kept  him  silent.  The  longer  he  watched  that 
slender  and  pale  hand  plucking  at  the  grasses,  the 
harder  and  rougher  grew  the  fight  between  pride 
and  its  kindly  adversary. 

“ Seraphina,”  he  said  at  last,  “ it  is  right  you 
should  know  one  thing:  I never  . . .”  He  was 
about  to  say  “ doubted  you/'  but  was  that  true? 
And,  if  true,  was  it  generous  to  speak  of  it? 
Silence  succeeded. 

“ I pray  you,  tell  it  me,”  she  said;  “ tell  it  me, 
in  pity.” 

“ I mean  only  this,”  he  resumed,  “ that  I under- 
stand all,  and  do  not  blame  you.  I understand 
how  the  brave  woman  must  look  down  on  the 
weak  man.  I think  you  were  wrong  in  some 
things;  but  I have  tried  to  understand  it,  and  I 
do.  I do  not  need  to  forget  or  to  forgive,  Ser- 
aphina, for  I have  understood.” 

“ I know  what  I have  done,”  she  said.  “ I am 
not  so  weak  that  I can  be  deceived  with  kind 
speeches.  I know  what  I have  been  — I see  my- 


PRINCE  OTTO 


293 


self.  I am  not  worth  your  anger,  how  much  less 
to  be  forgiven ! In  all  this  downfall  and  misery, 
I see  only  me  and  you:  you,  as  you  have  been 
always ; me,  as  I was  — me,  above  all ! O yes,  I 
see  myself:  and  what  can  I think?  ” 

“ Ah,  then,  let  us  reverse  the  parts!  ” said  Otto. 
“ It  is  ourselves  we  cannot  forgive,  when  we  deny 
forgiveness  to  another  — so  a friend  told  me  last 
night.  On  these  terms,  Seraphina,  you  see  how 
generously  I have  forgiven  myself.  But  am  not 
/ to  be  forgiven?  Come,  then,  forgive  yourself  — 
and  me.” 

She  did  not  answer  in  words,  but  reached  out 
her  hand  to  him  quickly.  He  took  it;  and  as  the 
smooth  fingers  settled  and  nestled  in  his,  love  ran 
to  and  fro  between  them  in  tender  and  transform- 
ing currents. 

“ Seraphina/’  he  cried,  “ O,  forget  the  past! 
Let  me  serve  and  help  you;  let  me  be  your  ser- 
vant; it  is  enough  for  me  to  serve  you  and  to  be 
near  you ; let  me  be  near  you,  dear  — do  not  send 
me  away.”  He  hurried  his  pleading  like  the 
speech  of  a frightened  child.  “ It  is  not  love,” 
he  went  on ; “ I do  not  ask  for  love ; my  love  is 
enough  . . 

“ Otto ! ” she  said,  as  if  in  pain. 

He  looked  up  into  her  face.  It  was  wrung  with 
the  very  ecstasy  of  tenderness  and  anguish;  on 


294 


PRINCE  OTTO 


her  features,  and  most  of  all  in  her  changed  eyes, 
there  shone  the  very  light  of  love. 

“ Seraphina?  ” he  cried  aloud,  and  with  a sud- 
den, tuneless  voice,  “ Seraphina?  ” 

“ Look  round  you  at  this  glade/’  she  cried,  “ and 
where  the  leaves  are  coming  on  young  trees,  and 
the  flowers  begin  to  blossom.  This  is  where  we 
meet,  meet  for  the  first  time;  it  is  so  much  better 
to  forget  and  to  be  born  again.  O,  what  a pit 
there  is  for  sins  — God’s  mercy,  man’s  oblivion!  ” 

“ Seraphina,”  he  said,  “ let  it  be  so,  indeed;  let 
all  that  was  be  merely  the  abuse  of  dreaming;  let 
me  begin  again,  a stranger.  I have  dreamed,  in 
a long  dream,  that  I adored  a girl  unkind  and 
beautiful;  in  all  things  my  superior,  but  still  cold 
like  ice.  And  again  I dreamed,  and  thought  she 
changed  and  melted,  glowed  and  turned  to  me. 
And  I — who  had  no  merit  but  a love,  slavish  and 
unerect  — lay  close,  and  durst  not  move  for  fear 
of  waking.” 

“ Lie  close,”  she  said,  with  a deep  thrill  of 
speech. 

So  they  spake  in  the  spring  woods;  and  mean- 
while, in  Mittwalden  Rath-haus  the  Republic  was 
declared. 


BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  POSTSCRIPT 


TO  COMPLETE  THE  STORY 

THE  reader  well  informed  in  modern  his- 
tory will  not  require  details  as  to  the 
fate  of  the  Republic.  The  best  account  is 
to  be  found  in  the  memoirs  of  Herr  Greisengesang 
(7  Bande:  Leipzig),  by  our  passing  acquaintance 
the  licentiate  Roederer.  Herr  Roederer,  with  too 
much  of  an  author’s  licence,  makes  a great  figure 
of  his  hero  — poses  him,  indeed,  to  be  the  centre- 
piece and  cloud-compeller  of  the  whole.  But,  with 
due  allowance  for  this  bias,  the  book  is  able  and 
complete. 

The  reader  is  of  course  acquainted  with  the 
vigorous  and  bracing  pages  of  Sir  John  (2  vol- 
umes : London : Longman,  Hurst,  Rees,  Orme  & 
Brown).  Sir  John,  who  plays  but  a toothcomb 
in  the  orchestra  of  this  historical  romance,  blows 
in  his  own  book  the  big  bassoon.  His  character 
is  there  drawn  at  large ; and  the  sympathy  of 
Landor  has  countersigned  the  admiration  of  the 
public.  One  point,  however,  calls  for  explanation ; 
the  chapter  on  Griinewald  was  torn  by  the  hand  of 


2 96  PRINCE  OTTO 

the  author  in  the-  palace  gardens ; how  comes  it, 
then,  to  figure  at  full  length  among  my  more 
modest  pages,  the  Lion  of  the  caravan?  That 
eminent  literatus  was  a man  of  method ; “ Juvenal 
by  double  entry,”  he  was  once  profanely  called; 
and  when  he  tore  the  sheets  in  question,  it  was 
rather,  as  he  has  since  explained,  in  the  search  for 
some  dramatic  evidence  of  his  sincerity,  than  with 
the  thought  of  practical  deletion.  At  that  time, 
indeed,  he  was  possessed  of  two  blotted  scrolls 
and  a fair  copy  in  double.  But  the  chapter,  as  the 
reader  knows,  was  honestly  omitted  from  the  fa- 
mous “ Memoirs  on  the  various  Courts  of  Europe.” 
It  has  been  mine  to  give  it  to  the  public. 

Bibliography  still  helps  us  with  a farther  glimpse 
of  our  characters.  I have  here  before  me  a 
small  volume  (printed  for  private  circulation:  no 
printer’s  name;  n.d.)  “ Poesies  par  Frederic  et 
Amelie.”  Mine  is  a presentation  copy,  obtained 
for  me  by  Mr.  Bain  in  the  Haymarket;  and  the 
name  of  the  first  owner  is  written  on  the  fly-leaf  in 
the  hand  of  Prince  Otto  himself.  The  modest 
epigraph  — “ Le  rime  n’est  pas  riche  ” — may  be 
attributed,  with  a good  show  of  likelihood,  to  the 
same  collaborator.  It  is  strikingly  appropriate, 
and  I have  found  the  volume  very  dreary.  Those 
pieces  in  which  I seem  to  trace  the  hand  of  the 
Princess  are  particularly  dull  and  conscientious. 


PRINCE  OTTO 


297 


But  the  booklet  had  a fair  success  with  that  public 
for  which  it  was  designed ; and  I have  come  across 
some  evidences  of  a second  venture  of  the  same 
sort,  now  unprocurable.  Here,  at  least,  we  may 
take  leave  of  Otto  and  Seraphina  — what  do  I say? 
of  Frederic  and  Amelie  — ageing  together  peace- 
ably at  the  Court  of  the  wife’s  father,  jingling 
French  rhymes  and  correcting  joint  proofs. 

Still  following  the  book-lists,  I perceive  that 
Mr.  Swinburne  has  dedicated  a rousing  lyric  and 
some  vigorous  sonnets  to  the  memory  of  Gondre- 
mark;  that  name  appears  twice  at  least  in  Victor 
Hugo’s  trumpet  blasts  of  patriot  enumeration;  and 
I came  latterly,  when  I supposed  my  task  already 
ended,  on  a trace  of  the  fallen  politician  and  his 
Countess.  It  is  in  the  “ Diary  of  J.  Hogg  Cot- 
terill,  Esq.”  (that  very  interesting  work).  Mr. 
Cotterill,  being  at  Naples,  is  introduced  (May  27th) 
to  “ a Baron  and  Baroness  Gondremark  — he  a 
man  who  once  made  a noise  - — - she  still  beautiful 
— both  witty.  She  complimented  me  much  upon 
my  French  * — should  never  have  known  me  to  be 
English  — had  known  my  uncle,  Sir  John,  in  Ger- 
many — recognised  in  me,  as  a family  trait,  some 
of  his  grand  air  and  studious  courtesy  — asked 
me  to  call.”  And  again  (May  30th)  “ visited  the 
Baronne  de  Gondremark  — much  gratified  — a 
most  refined j intelligent  woman,  quite  of  the  old 


298 


PRINCE  OTTO 


school,  now  helas!  extinct  — had  read  my  Re- 
marks on  Sicily  — it  reminds  her  of  my  uncle,  but 
with  more  of  grace  — I feared  she  thought  there 
was  less  energy  — assured  no  — a softer  style  of 
presentation,  more  of  the  literary  grace , but  the 
same  firm  grasp  of  circumstance  and  force  of 
thought  — in  short,  just  Buttonhole's  opinion. 
Much  encouraged.  I have  a real  esteem  for  this 
patrician  lady."  The  acquaintance  lasted  some 
time;  and  when  Mr.  Cotterill  left  in  the  suite  of 
Lord  Protocol,  and,  as  he  is  careful  to  inform  us, 
in  Admiral  Yardarm's  flag-ship,  one  of  his  chief 
causes  of  regret  is  to  leave  “ that  most  spirituelle 
and  sympathetic  lady,  who  already  regards  me  as 
a younger  brother." 


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